Argus

The Argus is a type of bird in the family Phasianidae and is closely related to pheasants and peafowl. It has hundreds or thousands of tiny white spots on its plumage pattern, and thus its naming might have been in reference to the mythical hundred-eyed giant argus or Argus Panoptes.

There are two genera of birds that are considered Arguses: Rheinardia and Argusianus. Within these genera there are two recognized species each with two subspecies. Argusianus also has a mysterious second species that is sometime thought to have gone extinct, but most likely is based on a simple aberration.


 * Crested Argus (genus Rheinardia)
 * Crested Argus Pheasant (R. ocellata)


 * Great Argus (genus Argusianus)
 * Great Argus Pheasant (A. argus)