2007 Colleges Wikipedia Choices. Associated sufferers: Wild birds

A turkey was just one of a couple of types of higher wild birds from the genus Meleagris. Turkeys try classified throughout the gamebird purchase. Formerly, these were thought a distinct family, Meleagrididae, but recently they were reclassified as a good subfamily (Meleagridinae) of the pheasants in addition to their partners. Just as in of many galliform variety, the female was smaller than a man, and much quicker colourful. Along with their wingspans of 1.5-1.8 meters, the fresh turkeys try undoubtedly the most significant birds in the open forest where it alive, and therefore are hardly mistaken for various other types.

The present day tamed poultry was created regarding Wild Turkey. The Ocellated Turkey are most likely and tamed from the Mayans. It has been speculated that the species is much more tractable than simply its north similar, and you will is actually the source of the expose domesticated stock, but there is however zero morphological facts to support which theory. In particular, the newest breasts tuft from domestic turkeys is an obvious indicator out of lineage in the Insane Poultry, since Ocellated Chicken doesn’t have which tuft.

Turkeys was commonly hunted, particularly the Crazy Poultry in the North america. As opposed to the domestic competitors, the brand new turkeys is careful and you will agile flyers.

Naming

When Europeans very first came across such varieties in the Americas, they incorrectly recognized all of them with new African Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris), also known as the fresh poultry-dick from the importation so you’re able to Main Europe courtesy Turkey, while the name of these country caught once the as well as the name of American bird. The misunderstandings is even reflected from the scientific label: meleagris are Greek to possess guinea-fowl.

Brand new labels on the domesticated Turkey in other dialects in addition to seem to reflect its exotic roots, viewed out of a vintage Globe opinion, and you can confusion in the in which it actually originates from. Many records in order to Asia observed in popular labels come back so you can a variety of several items: very first, the actual trust your freshly-receive Americas had been indeed an integral equestrian singles part of East Asia, and second, the newest tendency to attribute exotic develop to some kind of set that at that time symbolized much-off, amazing lands. The second is mirrored in terms particularly ” Muscovy Duck” (that is out-of South usa, perhaps not Muscovy) and even is actually a primary reasons why title “turkey-cock” is actually transferred to Meleagris varieties.

Another wild birds which happen to be possibly titled “turkeys” commonly for example closely associated: the Australian brush-poultry is an excellent megapode, plus the bird also known as “Australian turkey” is the newest Australian Bustard, a great gruiform.

Asexual breeding

Turkeys are recognized for their ability, uncommon amongst large variety, to reproduce asexually. Regarding absence of a masculine, females Turkeys are known to create rich egg. The individual put is commonly sickly, and you will often male. Which behavior is hinder the new incubation out-of eggs when you look at the Chicken farming.

Fossil turkeys

Of many turkeys was described of fossils. This new Meleagridinae try known from the Early Miocene (c.23 mya) beforehand, into the extinct genera Rhegminornis (Early Miocene out-of Bell, USA) and Proagriocharis (Kimball Late Miocene/Very early Pliocene from Orange Creek, USA). The former is probably a beneficial basal poultry, others a very modern bird much less similar to identified turkeys; each other had been much faster birds. A turkey fossil maybe not assignable to genus however, similar to Meleagris is famous on Later Miocene regarding Westmoreland State, Virginia (Olson, 1985).

In today’s genus Meleagris, a considerable number of varieties was basically decribed, given that poultry fossils is sturdy, frequently discovered, and you will turkes reveal far variation certainly one of anyone. All these heading fossil species are actually believed junior synonyms. That, the really-recorded California Chicken Meleagris californica, became extinct recently adequate to had been hunted by very early individual settlers, though its real passing is much more most likely owing to climate alter at the conclusion of the past freeze ages. The current types additionally the California Chicken appear to have diverged as much as one million years back (Olson, 1985).

• Meleagris sp. (Early Pliocene out-of Bones Valley, USA)
• Meleagris leopoldi (Late Pliocene regarding Cita Canyon, USA) – formerly Agriocharis
• Meleagris progenes (Rexroad Late Pliocene, Meade State, USA) – previously Agriocharis
• Meleagris sp. (Later Pliocene out of Macasphalt Cover Pit, USA)
• Meleagris anza (Early Pleistocene regarding Hillcrest State, USA)
• Meleagris californica (Late Pleistocene of SW Usa) – formerly Parapavo/Pavo
• Meleagris crassipes (Late Pleistocene from SW United states)