Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-c4f8m Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-16T07:59:49.103Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Developmental research on the origin and phylogeny of quails

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2007

G.B. Chang ,
H. Chang ,
X.P. Liu ,
W. Xu ,
H.Y. Wang ,
W.M. Zhao  and
O. Olowofeso
G.B. Chang*
Affiliation:
Animal Science & Technology College, Yangzhou University Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 225009, P.R.China
H. Chang
Affiliation:
Animal Science & Technology College, Yangzhou University Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 225009, P.R.China
X.P. Liu
Affiliation:
Animal Science & Technology College, Yangzhou University Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 225009, P.R.China
W. Xu
Affiliation:
Animal Science & Technology College, Yangzhou University Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 225009, P.R.China
H.Y. Wang
Affiliation:
Animal Science & Technology College, Yangzhou University Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 225009, P.R.China
W.M. Zhao
Affiliation:
Animal Science & Technology College, Yangzhou University Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 225009, P.R.China
O. Olowofeso
Affiliation:
Animal Science & Technology College, Yangzhou University Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 225009, P.R.China
*
*Corresponding author: passioncgb@163.com
Get access

Abstract

Around the world, there are 20 types of wild and about 70 domestic quail breeds or strains, including laboratory and commercial quail. Although all domestic quails were derived from wild strains, many obvious differences are evident today. However, how these differences occurred and which wild population was the first to be domesticated, remains unclear. This paper systematically presents the history of the development of domestic quail in China from 770 B.C. to the end of the 20 century. Taking into account recent research on some structural loci of domestic and wild quail, and in the light of recent survey reports of the present general situation of these birds, particularly in respect of their ecological performance and differences between wild and domestic quail, this review puts forward a new thesis forresolving the current uncertainty about the origin of domestic quail. It is suggested that unlike those of Japanese origin, Chinese quail are probably the earlier and more direct ancestorof most kinds of the domestic quail found around the world. Moreover, the review analyzes the possible evolutionary path to domestic quail, which is mainly a result of the flow of people from Japan to China. On the assumption that more and more wild quail populations are endangered, it aims to provide a basis forrenewing knowledge of wild quail resources and supporting the protection and use of these valuable worldwide stocks. This is especially important in China, the last country in the world to have so many wild quail populations. Furthermore, this new insight can promote and assist the world commercial quail industry to develop and flourish.

Keywords

wild quaildomestic quailquail domesticationquail ecologyquail industry
Type
Reviews
Information
World's Poultry Science Journal , Volume 61 , Issue 1 , March 2005 , pp. 105 - 112
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Chang, H. (1998) Study on Animal Genetic Resources of China, Shaanxi People's Education Publishing House. Xi'an, China. pp. 243–249.Google Scholar
Chang, H. (1995) Essentials of Animal Genetic Resources Science. Agricultural Publishing House of China (1st Ed.). pp. 93–133.Google Scholar
Chang, G.B., Chang, H., Zhen, H.L., Liu, X.P., Sun, W., Geng, R.Q., Yu, Y.M., Wang, S.C., Geng, S.M., Liu, X.L., Qin, G.Q. and Shen, W. (2001) Study on Phylogenetic Relationship Between wild Japanese Quails in the Weishan Lake Area and Domestic Quails. Asian Australian. Journal of Animal Science 14(5): 603–607.Google Scholar
Cheng, K.M. and Fujii, S. (1992) Acomparison of genetic variability in strains of Japanese Quails selected for heavy body weight. Journal of Heredity 83: 31–35.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Editorial Board of China Agricultural Almanac (1997) Chinese agricultural almanac in 1997. Agricultural Publishing House of China. Beijing, China. pp. 123–132.Google Scholar
Kimura, M. and Ohta, T. (1983) Mutation and Evolution at the molecular level. Genetics Supplement 73: 19–35.Google Scholar
Kimura, M. and Fujii, S. (1989) Genetic Variability Within and Between Wild and Domestic Quails Populations. Japanese Poultry Science 26: 245–256.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kimura, M. (1996) Wild quails. Study on animal products 50(1): 197–202.Google Scholar
Kong, Q. (Above 490B.C.) The Book of Poetry “Quail's are jumping”.Google Scholar
Li, S.Z. (1976) Compedium of Materia Medica. People's hygiene publishing house, Peking pp. 272–278.Google Scholar
Lin, M.C. Ming Dynasty (1568–1644). “The wisdom of common life”.Google Scholar
Maeda, Y., Hashiguchi, T. and Taketomi, M. (1976) Genetic variation of acid phosphatase in the Japanese Quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica. Journal of Genetics 52: 71–78.Google Scholar
Mandal, K.G., Sinea, R., Mishra, S.K. et al. (1994) Estimates of genetic parameters for some egg production traits in Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica). Indian Journal of Animal Health 33: 49–54.Google Scholar
Mazyad, S.A.M., Morsy, T.A., Fekry, A.A. and Farrag, A.M. (1999) Mites infesting two migratory birds, Coturnix coturnix japonica and Sturnus v. vulgaris with reference to avian zoonosis. Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology 29(3): 745–761.Google ScholarPubMed
Mills, A.D., Herron, K.M., Bain, M.M., Solomon, S.E. and Faure, J. (1994) Eggshell quality in Japanese quail Coturnix japonica genetically selected for high or low levels of fearfulness. Proceeding of 9th European Poultry Conference, Glasgow, UK vol.1: 292–293.Google Scholar
Sano, A., Goto, N. and Kimura, M. (1994) Genetic differentiation within commercial quail populations. Japanese Poultry Science Vol. (31): 276–286.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sano, A. (1995) Study on Domestication and Phylogeny of Quails. Doctorate thesis in Japan.Google Scholar
Schmid, I. and Wecsler, B. (1997) Behaviour of Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica) kept in semi-natural aviaries. Applied Animal Behaviour Science Vol. (55): 103–112.Google Scholar
Schmid, I. and Wecsler, B. (1998) Identification of key nest site stimuli for Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). Applied Animal Behaviour Science Vol. (57): 145–156.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sugiua, H. and Uehida, Y. (1991) Quail industry in Japan. Proceedings. World Quail ConferenceTartu-Tallin pp. 4–5.Google Scholar
Wang, H.Y., Chang, H., Xu, W., Chang, G.B., Lu, S.X., Du, L., Sun, W., Xu, M. and Wang, Q.H. (2003) Preliminary Study on the Level of Evolutionary Differentiation between Domestic Quails and Wild Japanese quails. Asian Australian Journal of Animal Science 16(2):266–268.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Watanabe, T. and Wakasugi, N. (1993) Genetic variants of pancreatic α-amylase in the Japanese quail. Japanese Journal of Genetics Vol.(35): 55–57.Google Scholar
White, D.J. and Galef, B.G. (1999) Affiliated preferences are stable and predict mate choices in both sexes of Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica. Animal Behaviour Vol.(58): 865–871.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Xie, C.X. (1989) Poultry history of China. Agricultural Publishing House of China. pp. 223–235.Google Scholar
Xu, W. (2003) Study on Genetic Co adaptability between Structure Loci of Wild and Domestic Quails. Yangzhou University, Jiangsu, China. Master's Degree thesis.Google Scholar
Yalcin, S., Oguz, I. and Otles, S. (1995) Carcase characteristics of quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) slaughter at different ages. British Poultry Science Vol.(36): 393–399.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhang, Y.S. (1716) The Dictionary of Kangxi, the middle volume of seventh.Google Scholar
Zheng, H.L. (1997) Study on Allozyme Polymorphysims in Viscera and Muscle of Two Quails Strains for Egg. Northwestern Agricultural University. Shaanxi, China. Master's Degree thesis.Google Scholar
Zheng, Z.X. (1976) Birds—Chinese economic animal. Chinese science publishing house, Peking: pp. 171–175.Google Scholar