Pheasants and Partridges (Phasianidae)

Scaly Francolin (Francolinus squamatus) - HBW 2, p. 495

French: Francolin écaillé German: Schuppenfrankolin Spanish: Francolín Escamoso

Taxonomy: Francolinus squamatus Cassin, 1857, Cape Lopez, Gabon.
Forms superspecies with F. ahantensis and F. griseostriatus; these three species have been separated in genus Squamatocolinus. Recently proposed reorganization of Francolinus places present species in genus Pternistis with 23 other species. Present species shows much internal variation and clinal extremes are sometimes accorded subspecific status, with up to seven different races having been proposed. Monotypic.

Distribution: Equatorial Africa between 10^o N and 10^o S: SC Nigeria SE to W Zaire and E to Uganda, S Sudan and SW Ethiopia, then S to E Zaire, NE Tanzania and extreme N Malawi; also recorded in C & S Zaire and WC Sudan.