Poultry Judging Practice Test

The genus species name for a domestic turkey is?

1. Meleagris gallapavo

2. Gallus gallus domesticus

3. Plymouth rock

4. Anas platyrhynchos

The correct answer is: Meleagris gallapavo

The genus species name for a domestic turkey is Meleagris gallopavo. This specific naming convention follows the binomial nomenclature system developed by Carl Linnaeus, where the first part of the name signifies the genus and the second part indicates the species. In this case, the genus Meleagris indicates a group of birds that includes turkeys, while gallopavo specifies the species, which refers to the wild turkey initially found in North America. This classification is crucial for proper identification and understanding of the biological taxonomy of the turkey. Other choices provided do not represent the domestic turkey. Gallus gallus domesticus refers to the domestic chicken, Plymouth Rock is a breed of chicken rather than a scientific name, and Anas platyrhynchos refers to the mallard duck. Understanding these distinctions in nomenclature helps in accurate species identification and promotes clarity in the study of poultry and their classifications.