Cladus: Eukaryota
Name Gallus Brisson, 1760 Reference Ornithologie 1 p.26,166' Notes Gallus gallus is also known as Gallus bankiva, Gallus ferrugineus and Gallus domesticus Vernacular Names Junglefowl are the four living species of bird from the genus Gallus in the Gallinaceous bird order, which occur in India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia and Indonesia. These are large birds, with colourful male plumage, but are nevertheless difficult to see in the dense vegetation they inhabit. As with many birds in the pheasant family, the male takes no part in the incubation of the egg or rearing of the precocial young. These duties are performed by the drab and well-camouflaged female. The junglefowl are seed-eaters, but insects are also taken, particularly by the young birds. One of the species in this genus, the Red Junglefowl, is of historical importance as the likely ancestor of the domesticated chicken, although it has been suggested the Grey Junglefowl was also involved.[1] The Sri Lanka Junglefowl is the National Bird of Sri Lanka. Species * Red Junglefowl, Gallus gallus Prehistorically, the genus Gallus was found all over Eurasia; in fact it appears to have evolved in southeastern Europe. Several fossil species have been described, but their distinctness is not firmly established in all cases: * Gallus aesculapii (Late Miocene/Early Pliocene of Greece) - possibly belongs into Pavo References 1. ^ Eriksson J, Larson G, Gunnarsson U, Bed'hom B, Tixier-Boichard M, et al. (2008) Identification of the Yellow Skin Gene Reveals a Hybrid Origin of the Domestic Chicken. PLoS Genet January 23, 2008 [1]. * Madge and McGowan, Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse ISBN 0-7136-3966-0 Source: Wikipedia, Wikispecies: All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License |
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