Ever wondered what scientists actually call those clucking birds in your backyard? Well, I’ve been raising chickens for years, and I gotta tell ya, the scientific name stuff confused me at first too! But after diving into research, I’m excited to share what I’ve learned about these fascinating birds we all know simply as “chickens”
What’s in a Name? The Scientific Classification of Chickens
The scientific name of the domestic chicken is Gallus gallus domesticus. This fancy Latin name tells us a lot about where chickens fit in the animal kingdom:
- Kingdom: Animalia (animals)
- Phylum: Chordata (animals with spinal cords)
- Class: Aves (birds)
- Order: Galliformes (heavy-bodied ground birds)
- Family: Phasianidae (pheasants, partridges, etc.)
- Genus: Gallus (junglefowls)
- Species: Gallus gallus (red junglefowl)
- Subspecies: Gallus gallus domesticus (domestic chicken)
But wait – there’s some disagreement among scientists! Some classify the chicken as a domesticated form of the wild red junglefowl (Gallus gallus) while others consider it a subspecies (Gallus gallus domesticus). And then there’s the U.S. Department of Agriculture which simply uses Gallus domesticus.
Honestly, it’s a bit like arguing about whether to call your grandma “grandmother” or “nana” – they’re all referring to the same bird!
The Wild Ancestors: Where Did Chickens Come From?
Our modern backyard buddies didn’t just appear out of nowhere! Chickens are primarily descended from the red junglefowl (Gallus gallus), which still roams wild in parts of Southeast Asia. But it’s not quite that simple (is anything ever?).
There’s scientific evidence that other jungle fowl species contributed to the chicken’s ancestry
- Gray junglefowl (Gallus sonneratii)
- Sri Lankan junglefowl
- Green junglefowl
In fact, genetic studies show that chickens share between 71% and 79% of their genome with the red junglefowl. That yellow skin you see on some chickens? That actually came from the gray junglefowl!
The Domestication Story: From Jungle to Farmyard
The domestication of chickens is a fascinating journey that began approximately 8,000 years ago in Southeast Asia. Archaeological evidence suggests that humans had domestic chickens in:
- Southeast Asia before 6000 BC
- China by 6000 BC
- India by 2000 BC
A groundbreaking 2020 study in Nature analyzed 863 chicken genomes from around the world and suggested that all domestic chickens originated from a single domestication event in the region that now includes southwestern China, northern Thailand, and Myanmar.
Why did our ancestors first domesticate these birds? Probably not for eggs or meat initially! Early domestication may have been for religious purposes or for cockfighting. Only much later did chickens become primarily food producers.
The Physical Characteristics: What Makes a Chicken a Chicken?
When we look at the scientific classification, what physical traits define Gallus gallus domesticus?
Chickens are relatively small birds with these distinctive features:
- Fleshy combs on their heads
- Wattles hanging from under their beaks
- Round bodies with short wings
- Unfeathered legs in most breeds
- Males (roosters) typically have more prominent combs and wattles
- Roosters also display longer, more colorful feathers, especially on their necks and tails
Adult chickens stand less than 70 cm (27.6 inches) tall and weigh around 2.6 kg (5.7 pounds) on average. But there’s huge variation between breeds – some bantam chickens weigh less than a pound, while large meat breeds can exceed 10 pounds!
Chicken Reproduction and Life Cycle
The scientific name might sound fancy, but the reproductive process is pretty straightforward:
- Hens are stimulated to lay eggs by longer daylight hours
- The time between ovulation and egg-laying is about 23-26 hours
- Productive hens can lay up to 300 eggs per year
- Fertilized eggs develop quickly, with chicks hatching after 21 days
- Chicks are born covered in down but become fully feathered after 4-5 weeks
- Sexual maturity occurs at about 6 months
While chickens in free-ranging flocks might live 6-8 years naturally, commercial laying hens typically produce eggs for 2-3 years before being processed for meat. In optimal conditions and with good care, chickens in captivity have lived up to 30 years!
The Genetic Marvel: Chicken Genome
Scientists have fully sequenced the chicken genome, and it’s pretty darn interesting:
- The G. gallus genome has 39 pairs of chromosomes (humans have 23 pairs)
- At 1.21 Gb, the chicken genome is much smaller than the human genome (3 Gb)
- The chicken gene set contains about 26,640 genes
- There are approximately 19,119 protein-coding genes, similar to humans
The chicken was actually the first bird genome to be sequenced, which tells you how important these birds are to science!
Social Structure: It’s Not Just “Bird-Brained”
When we talk about Gallus gallus domesticus, we’re describing a highly social animal with complex behaviors:
- Chickens live in flocks with defined social hierarchies
- They establish a “pecking order” that determines access to food, nesting sites, and mates
- A typical flock includes one dominant male, some subdominant males, and multiple females
- Hierarchies are established by age 10 weeks in female chicks
- Male chickens continue to battle for dominance into adulthood
- Chickens can recognize up to 100 individual chickens and remember them for years!
The Global Impact of Gallus gallus domesticus
Today, chickens are arguably the most numerous bird species on the planet:
- As of 2023, the global chicken population exceeds 26.5 billion
- More than 50 billion chickens are produced annually for consumption
- Chicken meat exports reached nearly 12.5 million metric tons in the early 21st century
We’ve bred specialized versions of Gallus gallus domesticus for different purposes:
- Broilers: Fast-growing chickens raised for meat
- Layers: Hens specialized for egg production
- Dual-purpose breeds: Used for both meat and eggs
- Ornamental breeds: Kept for showing and as pets
- Game fowl: Historically bred for cockfighting (now illegal in many places)
Interesting Adaptations in Chicken Physiology
The scientific name might not tell you this, but chickens have some remarkable adaptations:
- Populations from high-altitude regions like Tibet have special physiological adaptations
- These chickens express more hemoglobin in low-oxygen environments
- Their hemoglobin has greater oxygen affinity, helping them survive at high elevations
- Chickens have specialized pineal glands that contain pinopsins, important for circadian rhythms
Beyond Food: Other Uses of Gallus gallus domesticus
While most people think of eggs and meat when they hear “chicken,” these birds have served many other purposes:
- Scientific research: Chicken embryos are widely used to study development
- Pets: Increasingly popular as backyard companions
- Cultural significance: Featured in folklore, religion, and art worldwide
- Agricultural contributions: Their manure is valuable fertilizer
Wrapping Up: Why Scientific Names Matter
So why should we care about the scientific name Gallus gallus domesticus instead of just saying “chicken”? Well, scientific classification helps us:
- Understand evolutionary relationships
- Communicate precisely about species across language barriers
- Track genetic diversity and conservation efforts
- Study diseases and health issues specific to certain genetic lines
Next time you’re enjoying your morning eggs or chicken dinner, you can impress your friends with this tidbit: “Did you know we’re eating Gallus gallus domesticus?” Just maybe don’t say it with your mouth full!
What’s your experience with chickens? Have you ever raised them yourself? Drop a comment below and let’s chat about our feathered friends!
Gallus gallus domesticus Linnaeus, 1758
Gallina – Gallo, Gallina – Gallo doméstico, Domestic Chicken, domestic fowl
They are gregarious birds of medium size, capable of performing short flights. They have a distinctive social system and a hierarchical order established: there is a dominant male and a male subjected by all. Females have a separate hierarchy without dominance of males. Sexual dimorphism is evident at plain sight in this genus, the males are larger (50 cm.), they weigh up to 4 kg with two types of caruncular bumps on the head: a crest on the pileus and a pair of lobes which hang on both sides of the beak. The tail is composed of large, arching feathers. Two white spots on the cheeks make the difference between closely related species. It has gray legs, which are fitted with spurs in some races, but this is absent in the females. The hens are smaller, measuring no more than 40 cm and weighing about 2 kg. Its coloration is less striking, the fleshy appendages of the head are smaller, the tail is shorter. Life span depends on race, it could go from five to ten years.
Gallus spp. includes the many forms of domesticated chicken which have been bred and distributed widely across the world as an important food source. In addition to potentially spreading disease to other avian fauna, as generalist feeders, Gallus spp. may also negatively impact upon native flora and fauna.
Taxon category: Species with Infraspecific Taxa
Origin: Introduced – established
Year of first record: 1872
Mode of introduction: Intentional
Introduction Pathway: Intentional
Subpathway: Animals for breeding
Introduced status: Naturalized
Invasive status: Potentially Invasive
Impact in Galapagos: Chickens arrived in the Galapagos Islands as a source of food and it is currently the only animal species that is allowed to enter the Islands alive, after fulfilling stringent phytosanitary rules. In the past, without the existence of phytosanitary rules, they entered these poultry to the Islands and with them came a number of diseases. A study on the disease in domestic poultry and wild birds in the Floreana Island, revealed that domestic chickens have 9 diseases, two of which are already present in wild birds. Chickens that are adapted to the wild, also compete with food from other birds, eating invertebrates and seeds. They also prey on small reptiles such as lizards, snakes, and geckos. The impact that the wild chickens may have on populations of invertebrates, plants, and small reptiles has not been studied yet.
Impact elsewhere: Domestic chickens are carriers of many avian diseases (Fowlpox, Newcastle, etc.), and thus they are a pollution risk to native and endemic bird populations in different parts of the world, mainly in Islands. Herbivory and predation of Gallus spp., contribute to the destruction of habitats and they impact plants and native animals. There is little information that extant on the subject. When G. gallus are grouped in large quantities, they become human nuisance due to the noise they produce, mostly by males (roosters). Populations living near airports, are a potential risk to aircrafts, and these can cause considerable damage when there is a collision with an aircraft.
Control History in Galapagos: In the Galapagos Islands there is not and has never been a program of control of roosters, hens or wild chickens. However, municipalities have created regulations regarding the possession of these animals in urban areas, considered a social nuisance.
Control methods elsewhere: When chickens become a social nuisance, they are controlled through manual capture, traps and even with shots, especially if they are suspected of carrying a virus as avian flu virus H5N1, which harm third parties. There is no information on chemical control for G. gallus. The poisoning of chickens is not considered for control due to the high risk of unwanted harmful effects on native avifauna. In Cocos Island, wild chickens are captured using baited traps and then these are distributed among the inhabitants of the island.
Known Pest elsewhere: Introduced and Widespread worldwide
Prevention options: Avoid the transport of these live animals to pristine sites where they do not occur, not only because they could escape and become wild, but to prevent the spread of diseases that can spread and harm native birds.
Preference for an altitude zone in Galapagos: Coastal zonera – humid zone
Habitat preferences: They live where they can obtain food and shelter. They occur in agricultural areas, natural forests, planted forests, grasslands, scrub and urban areas. Wild Gallus can be found from coastal areas to high lands in the Galapagos Islands.
Feeding preferences: Chickens are omnivores. In the wild, they eat a wide variety of vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as plants and seeds. They forage often scraping the ground to locate food such as seeds, insects, even larger animals like lizards, small snakes and young mice. They cannot taste sweet flavors and generally they dislike salty flavors.
Trophic role: Omnivorous
Persistence mechanisms: Gallus gallus is a highly esteemed animal due to the nutritional benefits that currently provides to humans. Nowadays, its reproduction and permanence on the planet is in the hands of humans, who have created an industry of chickens worldwide. There is known to be three chickens (hens or roosters) alive per human being; however, data provided by the FAO in 2010 indicate that humanity consumes about 56 billion chickens and 1.2 billion eggs annually. Therefore, production has to be equal to or greater than this figure.
Reproduction mode: Exclusively sexual
Reproductive biology: G gallus is a social and polygamous animal, males mate with several females throughout the year. Females nest communally, they lay an egg every day for several days (between eight and ten eggs), which are incubated to develop the embryo by rotating it and giving it heat until it is born. During incubation, the embryo is nourished by the yolk, which penetrates through the belly button. Within 21 days the chicken is fully developed and the hatching takes place between 10 and 20 hours. When the chicken hears the chicks, it will cluck to encourage the young to hatch. Mothers are very protective with their offspring; they care for them for 2 weeks before mating again. The eggs do not hatch at the same time, so the mother stays incubating a couple of more days. Between two and four weeks after birth, chicks already have feathers. At eight weeks they already have the adult plumage. Then, the offspring are expelled from the group by their mothers and they form their own group or join another. Males first reach sexual maturity at five months. For artificial incubation, the eggs are transferred to artificial incubators, where the temperature (37 ° C) and relative humidity (55%, raising it to 70% in the past three days to soften the shell) is controlled and the results are satisfactory. The benefit of this method is that thousands of eggs can be incubated at the same time, which benefits the production of chickens for human consumption.
Distribution origin: Is native to Southeast Asia. The national varieties of G. gallus have been widely distributed around the world as a source of food.
Natural enemies: The main predator of Gallus gallus are humans, however both on farms and in the wild, these birds are exposed to the attacks of predators as mustelids, foxes, dogs, wolves, coyotes, raccoons, cats, rats and even birds of prey.
Economic Use: With the Gallus gallus domestication, different races were produced and are used extensively like food source. Either for the meat production or production of eggs, the chicken is one of the animals most exploited on a global scale. Its short development time, quantity and food quality, next to the low cost of production make them much appreciated economically. Annually, they are consumed more than 33 million tons of its muscles, sinews and fat. Approximately 600,000 million eggs are produced per year. The chicken meat can be cooked in many different ways, being a basic element of many restaurants of fast food. The eggs are used extensively in the preparation of a big variety of meals, both sweet and salty. Hens are also used like pet animals due to its docility. Roosters are also trained for fights that are usually very costly and the quantities of money that moves in the bets of fights is very high. The poultry production is an important economic activity in the inhabited islands of the archipelago. The production of chickens and its fattening associated with the growth of the human population and the industry of the tourism are increasing gradually. Its feathers are used for the making of crafts and typical clothes.
Disease vector: Gallus spp., can have a number of diseases that can become harmful to birds, such as Newcastle disease, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, the proventricular parasite Dispharynx sp., Toxoplasma gondii, Salmonella spp, it is even feared that Gallus spp . can be a carrier of H5N1 (bird flu). Antibodies to paramyxovirus, adenovirus, Infectious bursal disease, Avian encephalitis, Reovirus, Infectious bronchitis virus, Infectious laryngotrachitis, Paramyxovirus-1, Mareks, Adenovirus-1 and Mycoplasma gallisepticum was detected in Gallus gallus in the Galapagos Islands, all of these are pathogens of concern for both domestic and wild birds in the Archipelago.
Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.
Distribution: Feral and domestic chickens on Baltra, Floreana, Isabela, San Cristobal, Santa Cruz.
- Wiedenfeld, D.A. (2006) Aves, the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Check List 2006 2(2): 1-27.
- Jiménez-Uzcátegui, G. Carrión, V., Zabala, J., Buitrón, P. & Milstead, B. (2007) Status of introduced vertebrates in Galapagos. Galapagos Report 2006–2007. Charles Darwin Foundation, Puerto Ayora, p. 136–141.
- Gottdenker, N.L. Walsh, T., Vargas, H., Merkel, J., Jiménez-Uzcátegui, G., J., Miller, R.E., Dailey, M. & Parker, P. (2005) Assessing the risks of introduced chickens and their pathogens to native birds in the Galápagos Archipelago. Biological Conservation 126: 429–439.
- Thiel, T. Whiteman, N.K., Tirapé, A., Baquero, M. I., Cedeño, V., Walsh, T., Jiménez-Uzcátegui, G. & Parker, P.G. (2005) Characterization of canary pox-like viruses infecting endemic birds in the Galapagos Islands. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 41(2): 342-353.
- Soos, C. Padilla, L., Iglesias, A., Gottdenker, N., Cruz Bedon, M., Rios, A. & Parker, P.G. (2008) Comparison of pathogens in broiler and backyard chickens on the Galapagos Islands: implications for transmission to wildlife. The Auk 125(2): 445-455.
- Parker, P.G. Whiteman, N.K., & Miller, R.E. (2006) Conservation medicine on the Galápagos Islands: partnerships among behavioral, population, and veterinarian scientists. The Auk 123(3): 625-638.
- Phillips, R. B. D.A. Wiedenfeld and H.L. Snell (2012) Current status of alien vertebrates in the Galápagos Islands: invasion history, distribution, and potential impacts. Biol Invasions (2012) 14:461–480 DOI 10.1007/s10530-011-0090-z
- Dubey, J. P (2009) Toxoplasma gondii Infections in Chickens (Gallus domesticus): Prevalence, Clinical Disease, Diagnosis and Public Health Significance. Zoonoses and Public Health Volume 57 Issue 1, Pages 60 – 73
- Fassbinder-Orth Carol A. Hofmeister, Erik K.; Weeks-Levy, Carolyn; Karasov, William H (2009) Oral and Parenteral Immunization of Chickens (Gallus gallus) Against West Nile Virus with Recombinant Envelope Protein. Avian Diseases. 53(4). DEC 2009. 502-509
- Miller, E. Parker P., Duncan M., Merkel J., Padi l la L., Vargas H., Snel l H (2003) Developing an Early Warning System to Monitor Avian Health in the Gallapagos Islands. Verh.ber. Erkrg. Zootiere (2003) 41.
- Permin, A. G. Pedersen (undated) The need for a holistic view on disease problems in free-range chickens. Network for Smallholder Poultry Development The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University Frederiksberg, Denmark.
- Wikelski, M. Foufopoulos, J., Vargas, H., Snell, H. (2004) Galápagos birds and diseases: invasive pathogens as threats for island species. Ecology and Society 9 (5) Available from: http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol9/iss1/art5
- Freile, J.F. Santander, T., Jiménez-Uzcátegui, G., Carrasco, L., Cisneros-Heredia, D., Guevara, E., Sánchez-Nivicela, M., Tinoco, B. (2019) Lista Roja de las aves del Ecuador Quito, Ecuador. 97 pp.
Scientific Name of Poultry | Poultry classification | Poultry Science | Basic of Poultry Science
FAQ
What is the scientific name of chicken?
Let’s summarize the important things: The scientific name of chicken is Gallus gallus domesticus. The scientific name of chicken is once again Gallus gallus domesticus. The scientific name of chicken includes both males and females of this species. This term is useful in biology, agriculture, and the poultry trade.
What kind of chicken is a chicken?
chicken, (Gallus gallus), any of more than 60 breeds of medium-sized poultry that are primarily descended from the wild red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus, family Phasianidae, order Galliformes) of India. The chicken is perhaps the most widely domesticated fowl, raised worldwide for its meat and eggs.
Is a chicken a genus or a species?
The genus name “Gallus” is derived from the Latin word for “rooster,” while the species name “domesticus” suggests that the chicken is a domesticated subspecies of the red junglefowl, its wild ancestor. What are some other names for a chicken? A chicken can go by different names depending on the context and region. Some common names include: 1.
Are all chickens a Gallus genus?
Yes, all domestic chickens, regardless of breed or geographic location, are classified as Gallus gallus domesticus. This includes chickens raised for meat, eggs, or as pets. What are some other members of the Gallus genus?
Why are chickens called chickens?
The name chicken originally comes from ‘ciccen’ in Old English, meaning ‘young fowl.’ Ancient folks used the word to refer to any baby bird but gradually specified it to hens. ‘C’s later turned into ‘CH’s in this language, forming today’s “chicken” word. Regardless, the scientific name for these animals is “Gallus gallus domesticus.”
Does breed classification change the scientific name of domestic chickens?
No, breed classification does not change the scientific name. The scientific name remains Gallus gallus domesticus for all domestic chicken breeds. Breed classifications are more informal groupings based on specific characteristics. How does genetic analysis support the Gallus gallus origin of domestic chickens?
What is the scientific chicken?
The chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) is a domesticated subspecies of the red junglefowl (Gallus gallus), originally native to Southeast Asia. It was first domesticated around 8,000 years ago and has become one of the most common and widespread domesticated animals in the world.
What is the biological name for a chicken?
Chickens and turkeys are ground-dwelling birds from the order Galliformes. The genus and species name for chickens is Gallus gallus domesticus and for turkeys is Meleagris gallopavo.
What does “gallus domesticus” mean?
The chicken (Gallus domesticus) is a domesticated junglefowl species, with attributes of wild species such as the grey and the Ceylon junglefowl that are originally from Southeastern Asia.
What two animals make a chicken?
Domestic chickens were primarily created by domesticating wild Red Junglefowl, with significant genetic contributions also from Grey Junglefowl and possibly other species like the Sri Lankan junglefowl and Green junglefowl, all of which belong to the pheasant family.