Poultry Judging Practice Test

What is the scientific name of a chicken?

1. Gallus gallus

2. Gallus domesticus

3. Aves gallus

4. Gallus gallus domesticus

The correct answer is: Gallus gallus

The scientific name of a chicken is indeed recognized as Gallus gallus domesticus, which is a subspecies of Gallus gallus, the red junglefowl. The term "Gallus gallus" refers to the wild ancestor of domestic chickens. Importantly, the full name often used, Gallus gallus domesticus, specifies that it is the domesticated subspecies. The distinction is crucial for understanding taxonomy and the domestication process in poultry. While the other choices might seem plausible, they either lack the designation that distinguishes the domestic chicken (such as the absence of "domesticus") or inaccurately reflect the correct family and classification structure. Specifically, Gallus domesticus omits the genus designation, Aves gallus does not correspond correctly to the classification hierarchy used for chickens, and simply using Gallus gallus neglects to specify that it refers to the domesticated variety. Hence, the most accurate understanding and usage in scientific contexts point to the complete name indicating the subspecies.