Family PEDIONOMIDAE Bonaparte, 1856

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Introduction

The Plains Wanderer is a small endemic, monotypic species, once thought to be closest to the Turnix button-quail, but now considered to have its closest affinities with the charadriid plovers. Olson and Steadman (1981) derived evidence from osteological studies to justify placing the species in this order. The Plains Wanderer is terrestrial and resembles a small true or button quail in morphology. However, it differs in several atributes such as its long legs and the weak hind toe. The bill is slender, the wings are short and rounded, and the tail is short. The species inhabits sparse open native grasslands much of which is now degraded. The omnivorous diet of this species includes invertebrates, seeds and other vegetable matter.

Unlike other charadriiformes sexual dimorphism is marked, indicated by the colouration of the sexes: females have the brighter and marked plumaged. The species is polyandrous, the females courts and breeds with several males while the male incubates the eggs and cares for the ensuing brood. The eggs are laid in a slight ground depression on a layer of dry grasses. Four pyriform eggs constitute a completed clutch. The base colour is near ochre and the eggs are heavily blotched and spotted with darker, slate or olive brown and brown. The young are precocial, nidifugous and ptilopaedic.

History of changes