A turkey are just one from a couple of types of high birds about genus Meleagris. Turkeys is actually classified on gamebird order. Previously, these people were believed a distinct household members, Meleagrididae, but now they were reclassified because the a beneficial subfamily (Meleagridinae) of your own pheasants as well as their partners. As with of many galliform species, the feminine is actually smaller compared to a man, and far shorter colourful. Due to their wingspans of just one.5-step one.8 m, the newest turkeys try by far the most significant wild birds in the great outdoors forest in which it live, and are generally scarcely mistaken for any other kinds.
The current tamed poultry was made throughout the Nuts Turkey. The new Ocellated Poultry is most likely as well as domesticated by the Mayans. It has been speculated that this types is more tractable than simply their north equivalent, and are the source of your establish tamed inventory, but there is zero morphological evidence to support this theory. In particular, the newest boobs tuft regarding domestic turkeys is actually a definite sign out-of origin throughout the Nuts Poultry, due to the fact Ocellated Turkey doesn’t always have so it tuft.
Turkeys try extensively hunted, especially the Wild Chicken into the The united states. In lieu of their domestic counterparts, the fresh turkeys try cautious and you will agile leaflets.
Naming
Whenever Europeans basic found these species from the Americas, it wrongly understood them with the brand new African Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris), labeled as the new turkey-manhood from its importation so you’re able to Main Europe compliment of Poultry, as well as the label of these country caught because the plus the term of the American bird. The fresh confusion is additionally reflected from the medical term: meleagris is actually Greek to have guinea-fowl.
The brand new brands towards the domesticated Turkey in other dialects also appear to reflect their exotic root, viewed of an old Globe viewpoint, and you will dilemma from the in which it actually arises from. The numerous records to help you India seen in well-known brands come back so you can a combination of one or two activities: very first, the true trust your newly-discover Americas was indeed in fact an integral part of Eastern China, and you may second, new habit of attribute amazing write to a few variety of put you to definitely during the time symbolized much-from, amazing places. Aforementioned is mirrored when it comes including ” Muscovy Duck” (which is off South america, not Muscovy) as well as is actually a major reason why title “turkey-cock” was transferred to Meleagris species.
Various other wild birds that are possibly called “turkeys” are not such as for instance closely related: the newest Australian clean-chicken is actually a beneficial megapode, plus the bird identified since “Australian turkey” is really the brand new Australian Bustard, good gruiform.
Asexual reproduction
Turkeys are notable for their capability, unusual around high kinds, to reproduce asexually. Throughout the lack of a masculine, lady Turkeys are recognized to write rich eggs. The individual delivered can often be sickly, and you can usually male. So it behaviour is also affect brand new incubation out-of egg for the Poultry farming.
Traditional turkeys
Of several turkeys had been revealed of fossils. This new Meleagridinae are known on the Early Miocene (c.23 mya) forward, into extinct genera Rhegminornis (Early Miocene away from Bell, USA) and you may Proagriocharis (Kimball Late Miocene/Very early Pliocene regarding Orange Creek, USA). The previous could be a great basal turkey, one other an even more modern bird not as similar to known turkeys; both have been far shorter wild birds. A turkey fossil maybe not assignable so you can genus but exactly like Meleagris is well known from the Later Miocene away from Westmoreland County, Virginia (Olson, 1985).
In the modern genus Meleagris, a number of kinds were decribed, given that poultry fossils was strong, most of the time receive, and you will turkes inform you far adaptation certainly some body. A few of these supposed fossil kinds are actually believed junior synonyms. You to, the brand new better-reported Ca Turkey Meleagris californica, turned extinct has just sufficient to were hunted by very early people settlers, though the genuine demise is much more most likely owing to climate alter at the conclusion of the final freeze ages. The current variety additionally the California Poultry appear to have diverged approximately 1 million in years past (Olson, 1985).
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- Meleagris sp. (Very early Pliocene of Bones Area, USA)
- Meleagris leopoldi (Later Pliocene out of Cita Canyon, USA) – formerly Agriocharis
- Meleagris progenes (Rexroad Later Pliocene, Meade State, USA) – formerly Agriocharis
- Meleagris sp. (Later Pliocene off Macasphalt Shell Gap, USA)
- Meleagris anza (Early Pleistocene away from San diego State, USA)
- Meleagris californica (Late Pleistocene away from SW Us) – earlier Parapavo/Pavo
- Meleagris crassipes (Later Pleistocene out of SW America)