Great argus

Species of pheasant

The great argus (Argusianus argus), or greater argus, is a large species of pheasant from Southeast Asia. It is known for its impressive plumage and courtship behavior. It is not to be confused with the two species of closely related crested argus, genus Rheinardia.

Carl Linnaeus gave the great argus its specific name (from which its common name and genus name are derived) because of the intricate eye like patterns on its wings, in reference to Argus, a hundred eyed giant in Greek mythology. There are two subspecies recognized: Nominate argus of the Malay peninsula and Sumatra, and A. a. grayi of Borneo. William Beebe considered the two races to be distinct species, but they have since been lumped. The genus Argusianus was introduced in 1849 by the English zoologist George Gray with the great argus as the type species.

The double banded argus (Argusianus bipunctatus), known only from a portion of a single primary flight feather, was long considered a potential second species.

The great argus is a brown plumaged pheasant with a blue head and neck, rufous red upper breast, black hair like feathers on the crown and nape, and red legs. Unusual among Galliformes, the great argus has no uropygial gland.

The male is one of the largest of all pheasants, measuring in total length, including a tail of , and weighing Males have very long tail feathers and huge, broad and greatly elongated secondary wing feathers decorated with large eyespots. Young males develop their adult plumage in their third year. Females are smaller and duller than males, with shorter tails and fewer eyespots. They measure in total length, including a tail of , and weighs .

Despite displays similar to polygamous birds and though the great argus was thought to be polygamous in the wild, it has been discovered that it is actually monogamous. The hen lays only two eggs.

The great argus is native to the jungles of Borneo, Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula in southeast Asia.