Sophie Bennett
Chickens are one of the most common and widespread domesticated animals in the world, with a global population of over 26.5 billion as of 2023. They are primarily kept for their meat and eggs, though they are also kept as pets. The origin of their domestication, however, remains somewhat of a mystery. Most scientists agree that the primary ancestor of the modern chicken is the Southeast Asian Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus), but there is evidence to suggest that other species of junglefowl, including the Grey Junglefowl (Gallus sonneratii), the Ceylon Junglefowl (Gallus lafayettii), and the Green Junglefowl (Gallus varius) have contributed to the modern chicken's genetic profile.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Gallus gallus domesticus |
| Common Name | Red Junglefowl |
| Subspecies | Gallus gallus |
| Origin | Southeast Asia |
| Domestication | 7,000-10,000 years ago |
| Other Ancestors | Grey Junglefowl, Sri Lankan Junglefowl, Green Junglefowl |
| Hybridisation | Interbred with local wild species of junglefowl |
| Global Population | Over 26.5 billion |
| Annual Production | More than 50 billion birds |
| Use | Meat, Eggs, Pets |
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What You'll Learn
The Red Junglefowl
Red Junglefowl are naturally shy of humans, unlike their domesticated descendants. They are also distinguished by their colourful plumage, with males significantly larger than females. The male's tail is composed of long, arching feathers that initially look black but shimmer with blue, purple, and green in direct light. The female's plumage, on the other hand, is cryptic and adapted for camouflage. Male Red Junglefowl also have a shorter crowing sound than domestic roosters.
Over time, domestic chickens have also hybridised with other species of junglefowl, including the grey junglefowl (Gallus sonnaratii), Sri Lankan junglefowl (Gallus lafayetti), and green junglefowl (Gallus varius). This interbreeding has resulted in distinct genetic and geographical groups, with commercial breeds like the White Leghorn possessing a mosaic of divergent ancestries.
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Hybridisation with the Grey Junglefowl
The most recent ancestor of the modern chicken is the red junglefowl (Gallus gallus), a species native to Southeast Asia. Chickens were first domesticated around 8,000 years ago and have since become one of the most common and widespread domesticated animals worldwide.
The domestic chicken has also hybridised with the grey junglefowl (Gallus sonneratii), which is native to India. This species is also known as Sonnerat's junglefowl, and its scientific name commemorates the French explorer Pierre Sonnerat. The male grey junglefowl is distinguished by its black cape with ochre spots and finely patterned body plumage on a grey ground colour. Its elongated neck feathers are dark and end in a small, hard, yellowish plate, making them popular for fly-tying. While the male has red wattles and combs, they are not as prominent as those of the red junglefowl. The legs of male grey junglefowl are red and have spurs, while the female's legs are yellow and usually lack spurs.
The grey junglefowl is known to hybridise in the wild with the red junglefowl, as well as in captivity and with free-range domestic chickens in forest-adjacent habitations. Phylogenetic studies indicate that the grey junglefowl is more closely related to the Sri Lankan junglefowl (Gallus lafayetii) than to the red junglefowl, although another study suggests a more ambiguous relationship due to hybridisation. The grey junglefowl and Sri Lankan junglefowl diverged around 1.8 million years ago, which is more recent than the divergence time between the grey junglefowl and red junglefowl, estimated at 2.6 million years ago.
Genetic analysis has revealed that the yellow skin pigmentation common in commercial chicken breeds did not originate from the red junglefowl. Instead, it is believed to have come from the grey junglefowl, as domestic chickens with yellow skin possess a recessive allele caused by a regulatory mutation in the dermal β-carotene dioxygenase 2 (BCDO2) gene. This provides evidence of the role of hybridisation in the evolution of domestic chickens, as hybridisation and introgression are important processes in the evolutionary history of animal species.
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Domestication in Southeast Asia
The most recent ancestor of the modern chicken is widely believed to be the Southeast Asian Red Junglefowl (*Gallus gallus*). However, the origin of chicken domestication has long been debated by researchers, with India's Indus Valley, northern China, and Southeast Asia all being considered potential domestication centres.
The domestication of chickens in Southeast Asia is supported by a variety of evidence, including genetic studies, archaeological findings, and historical records.
Genetic studies suggest that the lineage that became the modern chicken branched off from the jungle fowl between 12,800 and 6,200 years ago, with domestication occurring after the split. The most recent genetic data links domesticated chickens most closely to the Southeast Asian subspecies *G. g. spadiceus*, which is indigenous to northern Thailand, Myanmar, and southwestern China. This subspecies is believed to be the main wild ancestor of the domestic chicken.
Archaeological evidence also points to Southeast Asia as a key region in chicken domestication. The earliest known chicken remains were found in Ban Non Wat, a dry rice-farming site in central Thailand, dating back to between 1650 B.C. and 1250 B.C. These early chickens likely fed on rice grains and millet grown by regional farmers, which may have played a role in their domestication.
Historical records and linguistic analysis further support the idea of domestication in Southeast Asia. A word for the domestic chicken, *manuk*, is part of the reconstructed Proto-Austronesian language, indicating that chickens were likely domesticated by Austronesian peoples and carried throughout Island Southeast Asia, Micronesia, and Island Melanesia during their prehistoric maritime migrations.
It is important to note that chicken domestication was likely a complex process involving multiple regions and subspecies of jungle fowl. For example, a jungle fowl native to the Indian subcontinent may have interbred with the chicken after its initial domestification in Southeast Asia, contributing to the genetic diversity of modern chickens.
Overall, while the exact details of chicken domestication are still being unravelled, there is strong evidence to support the idea that Southeast Asia, specifically the region encompassing northern Thailand, Myanmar, and southwestern China, played a pivotal role in the process.
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The origin of genetic diversity
Chickens are one of the most common and widespread domesticated animals in the world, with a global population of over 26.5 billion. They are primarily kept for their meat and eggs, though they are also kept as pets.
The most recent ancestor of the modern chicken is the red junglefowl (Gallus gallus), a native of Southeast Asia. The first domestication of the chicken is estimated to have occurred 7,000-10,000 years ago. However, the origin of chicken domestication remains somewhat unclear, with some sources stating that it is "obscure".
While the red junglefowl is the primary ancestor, it is not the sole progenitor of the modern chicken. Over time, the domesticated red junglefowl interbred with other local wild species of junglefowl, including the grey junglefowl (Gallus sonneratii), the Sri Lankan or Ceylon junglefowl (Gallus lafayettii), and the green junglefowl (Gallus varius). This interbreeding resulted in the genetic diversity observed in modern chickens.
Genetic analysis has revealed that the yellow skin pigmentation common in many commercial chicken breeds was inherited from the grey junglefowl. The white-skinned breeds clustered with red junglefowl, while the yellow-skinned breeds clustered with the grey and green junglefowl. This indicates that the yellow skin allele likely originated from the grey junglefowl.
The study of chicken genetics has important applications for sustainable breeding improvement programmes. By understanding the origin of genetic diversity in chickens, scientists can develop more efficient breeding practices and improve meat and egg production.
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The Gallus genus
While the red junglefowl is the primary ancestor, other subspecies and wild junglefowl species have contributed to the modern domestic chicken's genetic profile. These include the grey junglefowl, Sri Lankan junglefowl, and green junglefowl. A 2020 Nature study sequenced 863 chickens worldwide and concluded that all domestic chickens originated from a single domestication event of red junglefowl in present-day southwestern China, northern Thailand, and Myanmar.
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Frequently asked questions
The most recent ancestor of the modern chicken is the red junglefowl (Gallus gallus).
The red junglefowl was originally native to Southeast Asia.
The chicken was first domesticated around 7,000-10,000 years ago.
The scientific name for the modern chicken is Gallus gallus domesticus.
Yes, but it is not the sole contributor. Other subspecies of red junglefowl and wild junglefowl species also contributed to the modern chicken's genetic profile.
