White-tailed ptarmigan name "Tetrao (Lagopus) leucurus" by the Arctic explorer John Richardson in 1831. It was later determined that "Lagopus" had sufficient distinguishing features to be regarded as a separate genus and the bird became "Lagopus leucurus". Molecular studies have shown that "Lagopus" is monophyletic, with the rock ptarmigan ("Lagopus muta") and White-tailed ptarmigan being sister species. The position of the willow ptarmigan ("Lagopus lagopus") is less clear cut, it showing some genetic divergence over its wide range. The genus name "Lagopus" is derived from Ancient Greek "lagos" (λαγως), meaning "hare", + "pous" (πους), "foot", in reference to the bird's feathered legs.
Arctic Winter Games the first Arctic Winter Games. The participants came from the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Alaska. Since then, the Games have been held on fifteen occasions in different places and with ever more participants from more and more places within the Arctic region. The games in 2002 were the first jointly hosted Arctic Winter Games, by Nuuk, Greenland and Iqaluit, Nunavut. Games include: A total of nine contingents participated in the Arctic Winter Games. The same group of teams also made up the participants of the previous games Host cities have mostly been in Canada and the United States. The Hodgson