The phylogenetic relationships of the avian genus Crossoptilon were studied by comparing mitochondrial control region(D-loop)and cyt b gene nucleotide sequences,with the Lophophorus impejanus and Lophura swinhoii as the outgroups.Using the synthesizing characters of morphology,ecology and biogeography to combine with Maximum parsimony(MP),Maximum Likelihood(ML)and Bayesin trees,we found that:① C.crossoptilon and C.harmani were closely related and C.harmani was relatively primitive;② C.auritum and C.mantchuricum had a close relationship and C.auritum was relatively primitive;③ the genus Crossoptilon could originate in the boundary region of Sichuan,Yunnan and Tibet.One branch remained near the center of origin and diverged into C.crossoptilon and C.harmani;the other branch spread towards north China and diverged into C.auritum and C.mantchuricum.
