Sri Lankan junglefowl

TheSri Lankan junglefowl(Gallus lafayettiisometimes spelledGallus lafayetii), also known as theCeylon junglefowlorLafayette's junglefowl, is a member of theGalliformesbird order which isendemictoSri Lanka, where it is thenational bird. It is closely related to thered junglefowl(G. gallus), the wildjunglefowlfrom which the chicken was domesticated. However, it is even more closely related to thegrey junglefowl. Sri Lankan junglefowl and red junglefowl diverged about 2.8 million years ago, whereas time of divergence between the Sri Lankan junglefowl and grey junglefowl was 1.8 million years ago.
Evidence of introgressive hybridization from Sri Lanka junglefowl has also been established indomestic chicken.Thespecific nameof the Sri Lankan junglefowl commemorates the French aristocratGilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette(1757–1834).
As with other junglefowl, the Sri Lankan junglefowl is stronglysexually dimorphic; the male is much larger than the female, with more vivid plumage and a highly exaggerated wattle and comb.
The male Sri Lankan junglefowl ranges from 66–72 cm (26–28 in) in lengthand 790–1,140 g (1.74–2.51 lb) in weight, essentially resembling a large, muscularrooster.The male has orange-red body plumage, and dark purple to black wings and tail. The feathers of the mane descending from head to base ofspineare golden, and the face has bare red skin and wattles. The comb is red with a yellow centre.
As with thegreen junglefowl, the cock does not possess aneclipse 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 brownplumagewith white patterning on the lower belly and breast, idealcamouflagefor a nesting bird.
This is one of fourspeciesof birds in the genusGallus. The other three members of the genus arered junglefowl(G. gallus),grey junglefowl(G. sonneratii), andgreen junglefowl(G. varius).
The Sri Lankan junglefowl is most closely related to the grey junglefowl,though physically the male resembles the red junglefowl. Female Sri Lankan 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.
It is common in forests and scrubhabitats, and is commonly spotted at sites such asKitulgala,Yala, andSinharaja. This species is found from sea-level up to 2000 metres of elevation.
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 variousseeds, fallenfruit, andinsects.
Females lay two to foureggsin a nest, either on the forest floor in steep hill country or in the abandoned nests of other birds and squirrels. Like the grey and green junglefowl, male Sri Lankan junglefowl play an active role in nest protection and chick rearing.
The reproductive strategy of this species is best described as facultativepolyandry, 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 assowbugsandpillbugs. In particular, the juveniles ofland crabsare also highly important to the growth and survivability of the juvenile and subadult Sri Lankan junglefowl. In captivity, this species is particularly vulnerable to a poultry disease caused by the bacteriaSalmonellapullorumand other bacterial diseases common in domestic poultry.
The chicks, and to a slightly lesser extent the adults, are incapable of using vegetable-based proteins and fats.Their dietary requirements cannot be met with commercial processed food materials. As a result, they are exceedingly rare in captivity.
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.
InSinhala, it is known asවළි කුකුළා(wali kukula)and inTamil, it is known as இலங்கைக் காட்டுக்கோழி (ilaṅkaik kāṭṭukkōḻi).
In 1807, a tailless Sri Lankan junglefowl was described by the DutchzoologistCoenraad Jacob Temminck(1778–1858). He named themGallus ecaudatus.