Phylogeography of Phasianus colchinus Linnaeus, 1758 inferred from mitochonderial and nuclear genes in Iranian plateau Nasrin Kayvanfar, Mansour Aliabadian, Yang Liu Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) Linnaeus, 1758 is the most widespread pheasant, with a naturally range in the Palearctic Regions. There are 30 generally recognized subspecies from five groups, which have been occasionally afforded specific status. Within each group there is a degree of plumages variation, casting substantial doubt on the validity of many subspecies. There is considerable geographic variation, especially among males. Where ranges are contiguous, variation often appears clinal (including presence of white collar, intensity of plumage coloration and body size), but differences can be more abrupt between slightly isolated populations. The present study is the first attempted to disclose phylogeny of the common pheasant in Western parts of the Palearctic Regions (Iranian plateau). Using two mitochondrial and three nuclear loci, the phylogenetic trees were constructed for 17 nominal subspecies of the common pheasant. Our results suggested that P.c. principalis (White-winged Pheasant) closer to the P.c. tarimensis (Tarim pheasant) and placed in the principalis-chrysomelis group: Whereas P.c. persicus, P.c. talischensis and P.c. colchicus, were cluster together and make the Black-necked Pheasants (the colchicus group) clade. Our data also confirmed that the origin of common pheasant might be Southeast Asia. Key words: CR, Cytb, Phylogeography,

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