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Glite Dictionary
genus Gallus

genus Gallus

7.6
A group of birds that includes the domestic chicken and related wild species
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒɛnəs ˈɡæləs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : género Gallus
  • All domestic chickens belong to the genus Gallus in biological classification.

Examples

  • The red junglefowl is a wild species within the genus Gallus.

  • Did you know that the genus Gallus is native to Asia?

  • Scientists study the genus Gallus to understand the ancestry of domestic fowl.

  • The genus Gallus includes several species of wild chickens.

  • The common domestic chicken is classified under the genus Gallus in the animal kingdom.

  • Researchers continue to investigate the genus Gallus to uncover the evolutionary links to other bird species.

  • In addition to the domestic chicken, the genus Gallus includes several wild relatives native to Southeast Asia.

Synonyms

Gallus
vsgenus Gallus
  • Specialized
1 8.9

A group of birds that includes the domestic chicken and its wild relatives

is the fuller form that explicitly names the taxonomic rank

Surface Forms

genus Gallus singular
genera Gallus plural

Morphology

genus + Gallus

This is a literal, taxonomic combination: 'genus' (a biological rank) plus the proper name 'Gallus' (the named genus of chickens). A learner who knows both constituents can directly infer it refers to the genus called Gallus that includes domestic chickens; Linnaean naming is a cross-linguistic convention, so the composition is predictable.

Etymology

Genus Gallus comes from Latin, where Gallus meant 'rooster' or 'male chicken'. When scientists used Latin names to group animals, they put all related chickens under the genus Gallus, so today it means the group that includes the domestic chicken and its wild relatives.