Junglefowl
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 Domesticated Gallus gallus
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Junglefowl are a group of four living species of bird in the pheasant family which occur in India, Sri Lanka and south east Asia.
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 colourful male plays 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.
[edit] Species
- Red Junglefowl, Gallus gallus
- Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Gallus lafayetii
- Grey Junglefowl, Gallus sonneratii
- Green Junglefowl, Gallus varius
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:
- Gallus aesculapii (Late Miocene/Early Pliocene of Greece) - possibly belongs into Pavo
- Gallus moldavicus (Late Pliocene of Moldavia)
- Gallus beremendensis (Late Pliocene/Early Pleistocene of E Europe)
- Gallus karabachensis (Early Pleistocene of Nagorno-Karabakh)
- Gallus europaeus (Middle Pleistocene of Italy)
