Sri Lankan junglefowl
Sri Lankan junglefowl | |
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Male | |
Female both in Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Galliformes |
Family: | Phasianidae |
Genus: | Gallus |
Species: | G. lafayettii
|
Binomial name | |
Gallus lafayettii Lesson , 1831 | |
Range |
The Sri Lankan junglefowl (Gallus lafayettii sometimes spelled Gallus lafayetii), also known as the Ceylon junglefowl or Lafayette's junglefowl, is a member of the
Evidence of introgressive hybridization from Sri Lanka junglefowl has also been established in
Description
As with other junglefowl, the Sri Lankan junglefowl is strongly
The male Sri Lankan junglefowl ranges from 66–72 cm (26–28 in) in length are golden, and the face has bare red skin and wattles. The comb is red with a yellow centre.
As with the green junglefowl, the cock does not possess an eclipse plumage.
The female is much smaller, at only 35 cm (14 in) in length and 510–645 g (1.124–1.422 lb) in weight, with dull brown plumage with white patterning on the lower belly and breast, ideal camouflage for a nesting bird.[4]
Classification
This is one of four
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Cladogram showing the species in the genus Gallus.[2][5] |
The Sri Lankan junglefowl is most closely related to the grey junglefowl,[6] though physically the male resembles the red junglefowl. Female Sri Lanka junglefowl are very similar to those of the grey junglefowl. Like the green junglefowl, Sri Lankan junglefowl are island species that have evolved side by side with their similarly stranded island predators and competitors. Uniquely complex anti-predator behaviors and foraging strategies are integral components in the long evolutionary story of the Sri Lankan junglefowl.
Habitat
It is common in forests and scrub
Behaviour
As with other jungle fowl, Sri Lankan jungle fowl are primarily terrestrial. They spend most of their time foraging for food by scratching the ground for various seeds, fallen fruit, and insects.
Females lay two to four
Reproduction
The reproductive strategy of this species is best described as facultative polyandry, in that a single female is typically linked with two or three males that form a pride of sorts. These males are likely to be siblings. The female pairs with the alpha male of the pride and nests high off the ground.
Her eggs are highly variable in colour, but generally are cream with a yellow or pink tint. Purple or brownish spots are common. Occasionally, a female produces red eggs or blotched eggs.
The hen incubates her eggs, while the alpha male guards her nest from a nearby perch during the nesting season. The beta males remain in close proximity, and guard the nesting territory from intruders or potential predators, such as rival males, or snakes and mongooses. Sri Lankan junglefowl are unique amongst the junglefowl in the brevity of their incubation, which may be as short as 20 days as contrasted with the 21–26 days of the green junglefowl.
The chicks require a constant diet of live food, usually insects and isopods such as
Sound
While foraging on the ground, the Ceylon junglefowl male utters some short calls “kreeu, kreeu, kreeuu”. It also utters high-pitched rooster-like crow “cor-cor-chow” at dawn, often from a tree-branch. The female gives some “kwikkuk, kwikkukkuk”. The male is more vocal during the breeding season with advertising calls and various sounds during displays, as well with female as with rivals and in territorial defence.[7]
In other languages
In Sinhala, it is known as වළි කුකුළා (wali kukula)[8] and in Tamil, it is known as இலங்கைக் காட்டுக்கோழி (ilaṅkaik kāṭṭukkōḻi).
Tailless mutant
In 1807, a tailless Sri Lankan junglefowl was described by the Dutch
References
- . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ PMID 32050971.
- ^ del Hoyo, J. Elliott, A. and Sargatal, J. Handbook of the Birds of the World Lynx Edicions, Barcelona
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8493-4258-5.
- .
- PMID 15592405.
- ^ a b "Ceylon Junglefowl". www.oiseaux-birds.com. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-04-01. Retrieved 2014-10-13.
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: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - hdl:10141/622616.