The age-old argument about where Gallus gallus domesticus (or chickens) came from has been going on for decades among bar-stool scholars and coffee house philosophers. But Neil Degrasse Tyson was the first person to fully look into it, quantify it, and come up with a possible solution. Did he know where chickens came from, do we know what they are? Are chickens mammals or reptiles?.
His theory that the egg appeared first but it was laid by another bird didnt really shed as much light on the debate as wed hoped it would and it carefully circumvented the need to provide an actual answer. The lack of a definitive conclusion means that, realistically, were still no wiser about which came first, the chicken or the egg.
A popular theory among evolutionary biologists and paleontologists is that, unbeknownst to us, dinosaurs still roam the Earth. Or more accurately, their ancestors do.
The idea that birds are directly related to dinosaurs first gained popularity when Thomas Henry Huxley, who was known as “Darwin’s Bulldog” for his strong support of the Theory of Evolution, found a fossilized feather and suggested that there might be a genetic link between birds and dinosaurs, even though birds and dinosaurs evolved millions of years apart.
People were very interested in the theory at the time, and even though it’s been around for more than 150 years, scientists are still arguing about it a lot.
Still lacking the rosetta stone that would either prove or disprove Huxleys hypothesis, the idea slowly crept into and became part of, the mainstream consciousness, which in turn gave rise to the idea that birds were more closely related to lizards than they are to mammals.
Which, no doubt, originally led to the question in hand, namely “Are chickens mammals or reptiles?”
Are Chickens Reptiles? The Surprising Answer Explained
Chickens are a common sight on farms and in backyards, clucking and pecking their way through the day. But where exactly do these quirky birds fit into the animal kingdom? Are chickens reptiles, or do they belong to another class of animals?
The quick answer is no, chickens are not reptiles. But their classification can be a bit confusing at first glance. Chickens share some traits with reptiles, which leads some people to mistakenly group them together. However, chickens are scientifically categorized as avian dinosaurs, making them a type of bird rather than reptile.
What makes a chicken a chicken and not a reptile? Let’s look at some of their most important traits.
Eggs vs Live Birth
One of the main things chickens have in common with reptiles is that they lay eggs. However, the way chickens reproduce via eggs is different from reptiles. Chickens lay eggs that contain an undeveloped embryo, which is then incubated for 21 days before hatching. Reptiles tend to retain eggs inside their bodies longer, resulting in a more developed embryo at laying time. The eggs then hatch more quickly.
Mammals, on the other hand, give live birth to young that have already fully developed in utero. So while egg laying links chickens and reptiles, it does not make them one and the same.
Scales vs. Feathers: Birds have feathers, while reptiles have scales all over their bodies. Feathers keep animals warm and, in the case of flightless birds, let them fly. Scales protect reptiles and help them do well on land and in water. Chickens’ feathered covering makes them clearly different from other birds.
Warm-Blooded vs Cold-BloodedHere is another differentiator between chickens and reptiles. Chickens are warm-blooded, meaning they can maintain a consistent internal body temperature Reptiles are cold-blooded, taking on the temperature of their external environment
So while a chicken keeps warm via its feathers, a lizard may need to bask in the sun to raise its body heat. This metabolic difference is a definitive reason chickens are not classified as reptiles.
Hollow Bones
Birds have hollow, lightweight bones that aid in flight. While domestic chickens don’t fly much, this bone structure remains an integral part of their anatomy. Reptiles, on the other hand, do not share this skeletal adaptation.
Social Behavior
When it comes to behavior, chickens again differ from typical reptiles. Chickens live in social groups known as flocks and communicate in a variety of ways. Many even demonstrate self-control and problem-solving abilities during experiments. Reptiles tend to be more solitary and have less complex social connections.
Why Chickens Aren’t Mammals
Lets start with the most glaringly obvious reason on the list. Chickens dont have hair or fur. They, like every other member of the bird family, are covered in feathers.
And even though urban legends and poorly researched common myths say they can’t, chickens and most other birds can actually fly.
They choose not to for some reason, most likely because they aren’t very good at it and haven’t mastered it as much as the others in their genus have. They usually dont reach heights of more than ten feet and arent actually able to cover much distance when in flight, but nonetheless chickens can fly.
They just choose not to.
Dont ask us why, we dont know either.
You could ask a chicken, but they wont be able to tell you why either. Because theyre chickens and they cant talk.
Which, rather conveniently leads us to the next reason why when you ask “Are chickens mammals or reptiles?” we answer – chickens arent mammals. They, like every other member of the bird family, dont have a neocortex, the part of the brain that governs, and controls, language. Even if they wanted to tell you why they choose not to fly, they wouldnt be able to.
Then theres the whole issue of nursing their young. Chicks, almost as soon as theyre hatched, know how to feed themselves, its a biological imperative that drives their survival instinct. While they look after and help their young to fend for themselves, chickens dont nurse their young.
What Is A Reptile?
Reptiles are air-breathing vertebrates that are usually covered in scales, bone-like plates or a combination of both.
They lay soft eggs that their young hatch from. Their metabolisms are very slow, so they are cold-blooded and tend to hibernate in the winter and other cold months.
Are Chickens Actually Reptiles or Mammals? The Surprising Truth.
FAQ
Are chickens mammals or reptiles?
Here is the correct answer: From a technical point of view, chickens are neither reptiles nor mammals. They are birds that can be further classified as fowl. Fowls are birds that are raised for meat and eggs. Here are some of the anatomical and physical characteristics of chickens, demonstrating that they are neither mammals nor reptiles.
Are birds reptiles or mammals?
Birds are neither reptiles nor mammals. However, they share some characteristics with the two classes. Birds belong to their own order, with chickens classified as fowls. There are five classes of animals under the phylum Chordata. They include mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and amphibians.
Are chickens related to mammals?
Chickens are very remotely related to mammals, as mammals are descended from creatures that went down a separate evolutionary pathway from the ancestors of birds starting about 320 million years ago. Based on fossil evidence, chickens and other birds belong to a group of ancient reptiles called the maniraptors.
What do chickens and reptiles have in common?
One of the things that both reptiles and chickens have in common is what is called an egg tooth. Typically, any animal that develops in an eggshell will need a way to get out. Baby chickens and reptiles that break out of their shells have an egg tooth. Chicks have a hard tooth-like growth on the tip of the beak.
Are chickens a dinosaur or a reptile?
Based on fossil evidence, chickens and other birds belong to a group of ancient reptiles called the maniraptors. Maniraptors were two-legged, feathery dinosaurs that had evolved a special wrist bone that allowed for powerful movement of the front limbs. In birds, this movement powers flight.
What is the difference between a chicken and a reptile?
One of the main differences in the way chickens and reptiles lay their eggs is that egg-laying reptiles carry eggs a little longer than chickens. Reptiles lay their eggs when the embryo is at least one-third developed. After laying eggs, the eggs of reptiles usually hatch after a few days.
Are chickens considered reptiles?
No, chickens are not considered reptiles. Chickens are birds, which are a separate class from reptiles within the animal kingdom. While birds and reptiles share a common ancestor and are both Amniotes, they have evolved along different paths.
Are birds considered reptiles?
Yes, birds are considered reptiles from a phylogenetic (evolutionary) standpoint. The old Linnaean system divides animals into two groups: birds and reptiles. The newer phylogenetic system, which is based on ancestry, puts birds in the same group as reptiles.
Are chickens technically dinosaurs?
Yes, chickens are considered dinosaurs in the scientific classification of living things. While the term “dinosaur” is often associated with large, extinct reptiles, all birds, including chickens, evolved from a group of theropod dinosaurs.