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Pygmy parrot
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| Pygmy parrot | |
|---|---|
| M. pusio | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Psittaciformes |
| Family: | Psittaculidae |
| Subfamily: | Psittaculinae |
| Genus: | Micropsitta Lesson, 1831 |
| Species | |
|
Micropsitta pusio | |
Pygmy parrots are the smallest members of the parrot order. The six species of pygmy parrots are all in the genus Micropsitta, which is the only genus in the Micropsittini tribe.[1]
Pygmy parrots are native to the forests of New Guinea and nearby islands. They are tiny birds, fast-moving, and mostly green with bright highlights. A pygmy parrot spends a good deal of time climbing through foliage, using its large feet and beak, and stiffened tail feathers. At a little over 8 cm (3.1 in) long, the buff-faced pygmy parrot is the smallest parrot species.
Pygmy parrots are also among the few species in the order (other examples include Pyrilia and Nannopsittaca species) that have never been successfully kept, let alone bred, in captivity. All attempts to do so have resulted in the quick deaths of the little birds. Stress and dietary deficiencies are probably to blame.[2] Pygmy parrots are among the few birds that feed on fungi and lichens, which play a major role in their diet.[3] Their precise dietary needs are poorly understood.[citation needed]
Description
[edit]Pygmy parrots are the smallest parrots and range is size from about 8 to 10 cm (3.1 to 3.9 in). They have long toes and long, curved claws. The shafts of their tail feathers are stiff and form projections at the end of the tail. The cere is prominent. The external appearance of the adult males and adult females differ to varying extents in different species. Juveniles are duller.[4]
Taxonomy
[edit]The genus was defined by French naturalist René-Primevère Lesson in 1831. The name Micropsitta is derived from the Greek mikros meaning small and psitta for parrot.[5]
The pygmy parrots consist of six species and several subspecies:[6]
Genus: Micropsitta Lesson 1831 (pygmy parrots)
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red-breasted pygmy parrot | Micropsitta bruijnii (Salvadori, 1875) Five subspecies
|
the Maluku Islands and Melanesia. | Size: Habitat: Diet: |
LC
|
| Finsch's pygmy parrot
|
Micropsitta finschii (Ramsay, EP, 1881) Five subspecies
|
Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and the Bismarck Archipelago. |
Size: Habitat: Diet: |
LC
|
| Geelvink pygmy parrot]
|
Micropsitta geelvinkiana (Schlegel, 1871) Two subspecies
|
Biak and Numfoor islands in Western New Guinea | Size: Habitat: Diet: |
LC
|
| Yellow-capped pygmy parrot | Micropsitta keiensis (Salvadori, 1876) Three subspecies
|
western New Guinea | Size: Habitat: Diet: |
LC
|
| Meek's pygmy parrot
|
Micropsitta meeki Rothschild & Hartert, 1914 Two subspecies
|
Papua New Guinea. | Size: Habitat: Diet: |
LC
|
| Buff-faced pygmy parrot
|
Micropsitta pusio (Sclater, PL, 1866) Four subspecies
|
New Britain and New Guinea. | Size: Habitat: Diet: |
LC
|
References
[edit]- ^ Joseph L., Alicia Toon, Erin E. Schirtzinger, Timothy F. Wright, Richard Schodde, A revised nomenclature and classification for family-group taxa of parrots (Psittaciformes) (PDF) Archived 2013-12-11 at the Wayback Machine, in Zootaxa, vol. 3205, 2012, pp. 26–40.
- ^ Arndt, T. (1997). Lexicon of Parrots. Arndt Verlag. ISBN 3-9805291-1-8
- ^ Juniper, T., & M. Parr (1998). A Guide to the Parrots of the World. Pica Press, East Sussex. ISBN 1-873403-40-2
- ^ Forshaw, Joseph M. (2006). Parrots of the World; an Identification Guide. Illustrated by Frank Knight. Princeton University Press. plates 24–25. ISBN 0-691-09251-6.
- ^ Liddell, Henry George and Robert Scott (1980). A Greek-English Lexicon (Abridged ed.). United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-910207-4.
- ^ "Zoological Nomenclature Resource: Psittaciformes (Version 9.024)". www.zoonomen.net. 2009-05-30.
Pygmy parrot
View on GrokipediaTaxonomy and systematics
Classification history
The genus Micropsitta, comprising all six species of pygmy parrots, was established by René Primevère Lesson in 1831 within the family Psittacidae. The first species in the genus were described by Tommaso Salvadori in the mid-1870s, including Micropsitta bruijnii in 1875 and Micropsitta keiensis in 1876, based on specimens from New Guinea and adjacent islands.[5] [6] These early descriptions highlighted their diminutive size and distinct morphology, leading to initial placements within broader parrot classifications, though their precise relationships remained unclear due to reliance on limited morphological data. Pygmy parrots were recognized as forming a distinct group warranting subfamily status as Micropsittinae, with Micropsitta as the sole genus, owing to shared derived traits such as specialized tongue structure and foraging behaviors, though debates persisted on their separation from other Psittacidae subfamilies like Psittacinae. Early taxonomic discussions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries questioned whether their unique traits indicated a more primitive position or convergence with non-parrot groups, prompting proposals to elevate them to family level in some schemes. However, by the mid-20th century, classifications stabilized them within Psittaculidae as Micropsittinae, supported by anatomical studies emphasizing their Old World affinities. Molecular phylogenetic analyses from the early 2000s onward confirmed Micropsittinae as a monophyletic clade within Psittacoidea, occupying a basal position sister to other Psittaculidae lineages such as Polytelini and Psittaculini.[7] DNA sequence data, including multilocus studies, estimated their divergence from Cacatuoidea around 35.9 million years ago (Mya), with diversification within Micropsittinae beginning approximately 27.6 Mya (95% CI: 19.8–32.6 Mya), and a crown age of 4.1 Mya indicating substantial ancient extinction events.[7] These findings, building on seminal work like Joseph et al. (2012), resolved prior morphological uncertainties and reinforced their early divergence within Psittaciformes.[7] Subsequent taxonomic revisions have focused on subspecies delimitation, often based on plumage variations and geographic isolation, with no major splits or lumps at the species level in recent phylogenomic syntheses.[7] For instance, Harry C. Oberholser described Micropsitta keiensis chloroxantha in 1917, distinguishing it by greener underparts, while Ernst Mayr proposed Micropsitta pusio harterti in 1940 based on size and coloration differences across New Guinea populations. Across the six species, approximately 20 subspecies are currently recognized, reflecting ongoing refinements informed by both morphological and genetic evidence.Species and distribution
The pygmy parrots comprise six species in the genus Micropsitta, all endemic to the islands of Wallacea and Melanesia, including New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, the Solomon Islands, and adjacent island groups, where their distributions are shaped by the region's fragmented island geography promoting isolation and speciation.[8] These species are the Buff-faced pygmy parrot (Micropsitta pusio), Finsch's pygmy parrot (M. finschii), Yellow-capped pygmy parrot (M. keiensis), Red-breasted pygmy parrot (M. bruijnii), Geelvink pygmy parrot (M. geelvinkiana), and Meek's pygmy parrot (M. meeki).[9][10][11][12][13][8]| Species | Scientific Name | Primary Distribution | Notable Subspecies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buff-faced pygmy parrot | Micropsitta pusio | Northern and eastern New Guinea lowlands, Bismarck Archipelago (including New Britain and associated islets), D'Entrecasteaux Islands, and Louisiade Archipelago. | M. p. beccarii (northern New Guinea and nearby islands); M. p. pusio (eastern New Guinea and parts of Bismarck Archipelago); M. p. harterti (Fergusson Island); M. p. stresemanni (Misima and Tagula Islands).[9] |
| Finsch's pygmy parrot | Micropsitta finschii | Bismarck Archipelago (New Ireland group, including New Hanover, Djaul, Tabar, and Lihir Islands) and Solomon Islands (from Buka and Bougainville southward to Rennell and Makira). | M. f. viridifrons (Bismarck Archipelago); M. f. nanina (northern Solomon Islands); M. f. tristrami (western-central Solomon Islands); M. f. aolae (east-central Solomon Islands); M. f. finschii (southeastern Solomon Islands).[10] |
| Yellow-capped pygmy parrot | Micropsitta keiensis | Southern and northwestern New Guinea lowlands (Vogelkop and Onin Peninsulas), West Papuan Islands (Waigeo, Salawati, Misool), Aru Islands, and Kai Islands. | M. k. keiensis (Kai and Aru Islands); M. k. chloroxantha (West Papuan Islands and northwest New Guinea); M. k. viridipectus (southern New Guinea).[11] |
| Red-breasted pygmy parrot | Micropsitta bruijnii | Montane forests of New Guinea (from Vogelkop Peninsula to Huon Peninsula and Owen Stanley Range), southern Moluccas (Seram and Buru), Bismarck Archipelago (New Britain and New Ireland), and select Solomon Islands (Bougainville, Guadalcanal, Kolombangara). | M. b. pileata (southern Moluccas); M. b. bruijnii (New Guinea mountains); M. b. necopinata (Bismarck Archipelago); M. b. rosea (Solomon Islands). Possible undescribed forms in northern Moluccas (Obi) and western New Guinea (Ok Tedi region).[12] |
| Geelvink pygmy parrot | Micropsitta geelvinkiana | Lowland forests on Biak and Numfor Islands in Geelvink Bay, off northwestern New Guinea. | M. g. geelvinkiana (Numfor Island); M. g. misoriensis (Biak Island).[13] |
| Meek's pygmy parrot | Micropsitta meeki | Admiralty Islands (Manus, Rambutyo, Lou) and St. Matthias Islands (Mussau, Eloaua, Emirau) in the Bismarck Archipelago. | M. m. meeki (Admiralty Islands); M. m. proxima (St. Matthias Islands).[8] |
