The genus
Ptilopachus was introduced in 1837 by the English naturalist
William Swainson to accommodate a single species, the
stone partridge, which is therefore the
type species. The genus name is from
Ancient Greek ptilon meaning "feather" with
pakhus meaning "thick" or "dense". As traditionally defined, only the
stone partridge was included in this genus, but based on
genetic evidence, it now also includes
Nahan's partridge (formerly considered a
francolin). The study also concludes that this genus is more closely related to the
New World quails (Odontophoridae) and might be considered their only African representative. ==Description==