Polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing methods were used to analyze the genetic variation between Bambusicola thoracica and B.fytchii.A total of 1 142 nucleotides of the mitochondrial DNA control region were sequenced.There are 32 variable positions,with 20 transitions and 10 transversions.The nucleotide composition of B.thoracica mtDNA D-loop was:34.26% T,25.98% C,24.84% A and 14.96% G.That of B.fytchii was:34.47% T,25.60% C,25.03% A and 14.93% G.There were very significant differences in T and C nucleotide composition between the two bamboo partridges.The phylogenetic tree grouped two bamboo partridges into two deeply divergent clusters(supported by BP=100%).Genetic distance was 0.039 6 between the two partridges.Calibrated rates of molecular evolution suggested that they could have speciated 2.00 million years ago,affected by the Pleistocene second frigid.