Neophema
| Neophema | |
|---|---|
| |
| Turquoise parrot, female | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Psittaciformes |
| Family: | Psittaculidae |
| Tribe: | Pezoporini |
| Genus: | Neophema Salvadori, 1891 |
| Type species | |
| Psittacus pulchellus[1] Shaw, 1792
| |
| Species | |
|
6 or 7; see text | |
The genus Neophema is an Australian genus with six or seven species. They are small, dull green parrots differentiated by patches of other colours, and are commonly known as grass parrots. The genus has some sexual dichromatism, with males having brighter hues.
Taxonomy
Sometimes the broad-tailed parrots are considered a subfamily. In this case, Neophema and Bourke's parrot are united in the tribe of Neophemini. mtDNA sequence data (Miyaki et al. 1998) suggests that the former may be correct, but the latter is almost certainly not. Rather, it appears, that the group would need to include more closely related forms, such as the budgerigar and the Pezoporus ground-parrots. However, while Joseph et al. (2011) also found Neophema to be related both Bourke's parrot and ground-parrots. It is part of the Pezoporini tribe, but they are not related to the budgerigar.
The mitochondrial DNA analysis that was published in 2021 indicated that the ancestors of Bourke's parrot and the remaining Neophema parrots most likely divided between 6.4 and 8 million years ago. The Neophema lineage is separated again, with one giving rise to the turquoise and scarlet-chested parrots, and the other to the four remaining species. Of these four species, the ancestor of the orange-bellied parrot was separated next, then the elegant parrot. Leaving the blue-winged and rock parrot as each other's closest relatives.[2]
Species
There are 6 or 7 species:
- Blue-winged parrot, Neophema chrysostoma
- Elegant parrot, Neophema elegans
- Rock parrot, Neophema petrophila
- Orange-bellied parrot, Neophema chrysogaster
- Turquoise parrot, Neophema pulchella
- Scarlet-chested parrot, Neophema splendida
Depending on the author, Neopsephotus bourkii (Bourke's parrot) may also be considered a member of this group.
Aviculture
The scarlet-chested parrot, turquoise parrot and elegant parrot are all commonly raised and bred in captivity with a number of unusual colour forms arising. The members of this genus are not altogether easy to keep, being tender birds that may die without apparent cause, succumbing to mobbing by more robust aviary mates or diseases. This has hampered captive propagation efforts, e.g. in the case of the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot.
They are certainly not "beginner's birds" and will usually not thrive if they are not provided with a spacious aviary where a small flock can be kept in company of a few other small and harmless birds. It is possible to keep a pair or a single bird in a cage, but they will be sluggish and unhealthy if they are not let out to fly and socialize with humans frequently. Trade in wild-caught specimens is strongly restricted; in any case, these should be rejected because they are extremely tough to accustomize to aviary conditions. It is usually impossible, even for expert aviculturalists, to keep wild-caught birds alive for more than a few months. Captive-bred birds of several species are available, and these are far more hardy, though inexperienced aviculturalists should avoid them nonetheless.
Popular in Australia and internationally, Neophema are sometimes referred to as 'grass parakeets' in avicultural literature. The most easily bred are Bourke's parrot (as Neophema), scarlet-chested parrot (N. splendida), the turquoise parrot (N. pulchella), and elegant parrot (N. elegans), the most difficult and uncommon captive is the rock parrot (N. petrophila). Aside from Bourke's parrot, all are distinguished as predominantly green birds. The orange-bellied parrot has not been commercially available due to rarity and legal restriction.[3]
References
- ^ "Psittaculidae". aviansystematics.org. The Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
- ^ Hogg, Carolyn J.; Morrison, Caitlin; Dudley, Jessica S.; Alquezar-Planas, David E.; Beasley-Hall, Perry G.; Magrath, Michael J. L.; Ho, Simon Y. W.; Lo, Nathan; Johnson, Rebecca N.; Grueber, Catherine E. (2021). "Using phylogenetics to explore interspecies genetic rescue options for a critically endangered parrot". Conservation Science and Practice. 3 (9). Bibcode:2021ConSP...3E.483H. doi:10.1111/csp2.483. S2CID 237886232.
- ^ Shephard, Mark (1989). Aviculture in Australia: Keeping and Breeding Aviary Birds. Prahran, Victoria: Black Cockatoo Press. p. 66. ISBN 978-0-9588106-0-9.
- Miyaki, C. Y.; Matioli, S. R.; Burke, T. & Wajntal, A. (1998): Parrot evolution and paleogeographical events: Mitochondrial DNA evidence. Molecular Biology and Evolution 15: 544–551. PDF fulltext
- Juniper & Parr (1998) Parrots: A Guide to Parrots of the World; ISBN 0-300-07453-0.
