jungle fowl

jungle fowl
any of several East Indian, gallinaceous birds of the genus Gallus, as G. gallus (red jungle fowl) believed to be the ancestor of the domestic fowl.
[1815-25]

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Any of four species of Asian birds (genus Gallus) that differ from other species in the pheasant family in having, in the male, a fleshy comb, lobed wattles hanging below the bill, and a high-arched tail.

The red jungle fowl is the ancestor of the chicken. The cock has shining silky plumage, red on the head and back and green-black elsewhere; the hen is rusty brown with speckled neck and minimal comb.

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Gallus
 any of four Asian birds of the genus Gallus, family Phasianidae (order Galliformes). (For Australian jungle fowl, see megapode.) Gallus species differ from other members of the pheasant family in having, in the male, a fleshy comb, lobed wattles hanging below the bill, and high-arched tail. The red jungle fowl (G. gallus) is the ancestor of the domestic fowl. The cock has shining silky plumage, red on the head and back and green-black elsewhere—a pattern seen also in several domestic breeds; the hen is rusty brown with speckled neck and minimal comb. Males meet in a selected arena—natural precursor of the gamecock pit (see cockfighting)—where they use their sharp leg spurs in combat, often to the death. In courtship display, the male droops one wing and tilts his head, mantle, and back—his most colourful parts—toward the hen; the domestic rooster behaves similarly. Jungle fowl seem to be monogamous under normal circumstances. The hen lays 5–8 buffy eggs at a time.

      The gray jungle fowl (G. sonnerati), of southern India, may also have contributed to the ancestry of the domestic fowl, which in some breeds shows a similar grayish and white pattern. Other species inhabit parts of India and are found also in Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Java, and some Indonesian islands.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Jungle fowl — Jungle Jun gle (j[u^][ng] g l), n. [Hind. jangal desert, forest, jungle; Skr. ja[.n]gala desert.] 1. A dense growth of brushwood, grasses, reeds, vines, etc.; an almost impenetrable thicket of trees, canes, and reedy vegetation, as in India,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • jungle fowl — n. any of several Asian gallinaceous birds (genus Gallus, family Phasianidae), having combs and throat wattles: the red Indian species ( G. gallus) is regarded as the ancestor of the present day domestic chicken …   English World dictionary

  • jungle fowl — noun small Asiatic wild bird; believed to be ancestral to domestic fowl • Syn: ↑gallina • Hypernyms: ↑gallinaceous bird, ↑gallinacean • Hyponyms: ↑jungle cock, ↑jungle hen, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • jungle fowl — jun′gle fowl n. orn any of several S or SE Asian forest birds of the genus Gallus, of the pheasant family, esp. G. gallus, considered to be ancestral to domestic chickens • Etymology: 1815–25 …   From formal English to slang

  • jungle fowl — noun Date: circa 1825 any of several Asian wild birds (genus Gallus) related to the pheasants; especially a bird (G. gallus) of southeastern Asia from which domestic chickens have probably descended …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Saipan Jungle Fowl — The Saipan Jungle Fowl is a breed of domestic chicken. Not a true jungle fowl, it was found on the island of Saipan. It is thought to have been brought into The United States of America by returning American servicemen at the end of World War II… …   Wikipedia

  • red jungle fowl — noun a jungle fowl of southeastern Asia that is considered ancestral to the domestic fowl • Syn: ↑Gallus gallus • Hypernyms: ↑jungle fowl, ↑gallina …   Useful english dictionary

  • red jungle fowl. — See under jungle fowl. * * * …   Universalium

  • red jungle fowl. — See under jungle fowl …   Useful english dictionary

  • Jungle — Jun gle (j[u^][ng] g l), n. [Hind. jangal desert, forest, jungle; Skr. ja[.n]gala desert.] 1. A dense growth of brushwood, grasses, reeds, vines, etc.; an almost impenetrable thicket of trees, canes, and reedy vegetation, as in India, Africa,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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