Gallinaceas or galliformes: what are, characteristics, classification and examples

Gallinaceas or galliformes: what are, characteristics, classification and examples

By Dr. Kyle Muller

Gallináceas or galliforms are a group of birds that make up an order. They have a short or medium peak with a curvature at the top and some legs with three front fingers to dig on the earth. They are classified into 5 families with more than 70 genres. Some examples of gallinaceas are the common pheisan, the red partridge and the Aliblanca turkey. Here in ecology, you can learn more about What are gallinaceas or galliforms, their characteristics, classification and examples.

What are and characteristics of gallinaceae or galliformes

The galliformes are a Bird order that includes around 283 species. The name of this order comes from the Latin term for “rooster”, “gallus”, which means “Those who have a rooster form”. This group includes various birds such as chickens, partridges, turkeys, painted and chachalacas, among others.

Some of the outstanding characteristics of this group are:

  • Have Short Picos or medium with a curvature at the top, which facilitates the collection of grains.
  • Their legs have three front fingers arranged so that they allow them to dig on earth.
  • Their wings are short and roundedwhich makes most of these birds not migratory and choose to walk and run instead of flying.
  • They are animals terrestrial and tree.
  • In their natural state, they have a life expectancy of 5 to 8 yearsalthough in captivity they can live until 30 years.
  • They use visual signals and vocalizations To communicate, court, fight, establish territories and express anguish.
  • Humans use them as hunting animals by Its flesh and eggsas well as for recreational hunting.
  • Adult males have one or more Spurs Sharmed Corneas on the back of each leg, which they use to fight.

Gallinaceas or galliformes: what are, characteristics, classification and examples - What are and characteristics of the gallinaceas or galliformes

Classification of galliformes

According to the CLEMENTS classification, Galliformes order is classified as five families:

Megapodiidae family (7 genres)

  • Alecture
  • Aepypodius
  • Talegalla
  • LEIPAA
  • MacroChelon
  • Eulipoa
  • Megapodius

Cracidae family (11 genres)

  • Ortalis
  • Penelope
  • Pipile
  • Pauxi
  • Bored
  • CHAMAEPETES
  • Penelopine
  • Oreophas
  • NOHOCRAX
  • Crax
  • Mitu

Phasianidae family (4 subfamilias and more than 50 genres)

  • Subfamily Perdicinae
  • Subfamily meleagridinae
  • PHASIANINAE SUBFAMIL
  • Tetraoninae subfamily

Numidinae family (4 genres)

  • Acryllium
  • Barecases
  • Guttera
  • Numida

Odontophoridae family (10 genres)

  • Dendortyx
  • Oreortyx
  • Callipempla
  • Philorthx
  • Colinus
  • Odontophorus
  • Dactylortyx
  • Cyrtonyx
  • Rhynchortyx
  • Ptilopachus

You may also be interested in reading this other article about the classification of birds.

Where the gallináceas live

The birds of the Gallináceas group are in a wide variety of habitats, such as Forests, deserts and grasslands. They are able to adapt to areas with very cold winters. Their considerable size, abundant plumage and reduced activity levels allow them to conserve energy and support the low temperatures. In this type of environmental conditions, they can adjust their diet to include foods similar to those consumed by ruminants.

The species that inhabit grasslands are characterized by having long legs, elongated necks and large and wide wings. They also exist mountain species that usually perform altitude migrations, and subtropical species that use the sustained flight to move to areas with water and grasslands to feed.

Gallináceas or galliformes: what are, characteristics, classification and examples - where the gallináceas live

Gallinacea or Gallifiform feeding

Gallififorms are mostly animals herbivores and occasionally omnivorous. They usually have a robust body structure, with Short and thick spikes that are mainly adapted to search roots, leaves, seeds, etc. and consume plant matter on the ground.

Young birds also feed on insects. Also the birds that inhabit in jungles and most of the genres of subtropical Faisanes have different nutritional needs from those of the typical genders of the paleartic. For example, it has been observed that the Himalayas Monal (Lophophorus impejanus) Escar in the decomposition of fallen trees in a similar way to carpenter birds, in order to extract invertebrates. It even relies on its square tail to facilitate this activity.

Reproduction of gallinaceae

The gallinaceae are Oviparous animalsthat is, they have sexual reproduction and put eggsof which after a while the young come out. The vast majority of galliforms have a remarkable reproduction capacity, with nest that regularly exceed The 10 eggs In many species. These species are distinguished by presenting a marked sexual dimorphism. The Galliformes young are early and begin to wander with their mothers a few hours after birth. An extreme example of this is found in the megapodiidae, where adults do not incubate the eggs, but also deposit the task of incubation in mounds of decomposition vegetation, volcanic ashes or hot sand. The offspring must excavate their output of the mound after hatching, but they already emerge from the eggs with full plumage and, when abandoning the mound, they are able to fly considerable distances.

In these other articles you can learn more about animals that put eggs and sexual dimorphism: what is and examples.

Examples of gallinaceae

Phasianidae family

  • Rooster and chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus)
  • Common Faisan (Phasianus Colchicus)
  • Faisán Monal del Himalaya (Lophophorus impejanus)
  • Japanese quail (Japanese Coturnix)
  • Red partridge (Alectoris Rufa)

Numididae family

  • Common painted (Numida Meleagris)
  • Vulturine painted (Acryllium vulturinum)
  • Crest painted (Guttera Pucherani)

Odontophoridae family

  • California quail (Callipepla Californica)
  • Shammous quail (Dactylortyx thoracicus)
  • Mountain quail (Odontophorus gujanensis)

Cracidae family

  • Cave cave (PENELOPE PURPURASCENS)
  • Pava Aliblanca (Penelope albipennis)
  • Black turkey (Ortalis Vetula)

Megapodiidae family

  • Maybe brown (Megapodius Freycinet)
  • Tallegalo header (LATHAMI ALECTURE)
  • Taller it from New Guinea (Megapodius affinis)

Now that you know better what gallináceas or galliformes are, their characteristics, classification and examples, you may be interested in reading about poultry: types and examples.

Gallinaceas or galliformes: what are, characteristics, classification and examples - examples of gallinaceae

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Literature
  • Zamorano, J. (2022). Galliformes order. Avetimology, the origin of the names of the birds of Europe. Barcelona: Omega BCN Editions, SL. p. 28. ISBN 978-84282-1748-4.
Kyle Muller
About the author
Dr. Kyle Muller
Dr. Kyle Mueller is a Research Analyst at the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department in Houston, Texas. He earned his Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Texas State University in 2019, where his dissertation was supervised by Dr. Scott Bowman. Dr. Mueller's research focuses on juvenile justice policies and evidence-based interventions aimed at reducing recidivism among youth offenders. His work has been instrumental in shaping data-driven strategies within the juvenile justice system, emphasizing rehabilitation and community engagement.
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