Psittacula Species Profile

Members of the parrot genus Psittacula are found from Africa to South-East Asia. It is a widespread group, with a clear concentration of species in south Asia, but also with representatives in Africa and the islands of the Indian Ocean. This is the only genus of Parrot which has majority of its species in continental Asia. Of all the extant species only Psittacula calthropae, Psittacula caniceps and Psittacula echo do not have a representative subspecies in any part of mainland continental Asia. The Rose-ringed Parakeet, Psittacula krameri, is one of the most widely distributed of all parrots.
The other two Asian genera, Loriculus and Psittinus are represented by only two and one species respectively, which occur in the mainland part of Asia. The majority of the Loriculus species occur on islands. Moreover since Loriculus is spread across both sides of the Wallace Line it can be considered more Australasian than Asian.
These parrots are mostly green plumaged, with adults having coloured heads. The bill is stout, and the tail is long and strongly graduated.
Contents

• <LI class=toclevel-1>1 Species and phylogeny <LI class=toclevel-1>2 Trivia <LI class=toclevel-1>3 External links
• 4 References

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Species and phylogeny

Phylogeny of the genus Psittacula based on existing molecular evidence [1]. Species with red lines are currently unplaced in the phylogeny, but do belong to this genus.

• Newton's Parakeet, Psittacula exsul
  Extinct (1875)
• Seychelles Parakeet, Psittacula wardi
  Extinct (1883)
• Mauritius Parakeet, Psittacula echo
• Rose-ringed Parakeet, Psittacula krameri
• Indian Ringneck Parakeet, Psittacula (krameri) manillensis
• Alexandrine Parakeet, Psittacula eupatria
• Plum-headed Parakeet, Psittacula cyanocephala
• Blossom-headed Parakeet, Psittacula roseata
• Slaty-headed Parakeet, Psittacula himalayana
• Grey-headed Parakeet, Psittacula finschii
• Malabar Parakeet, Psittacula columboides
• Layard's Parakeet, Psittacula calthropae
• Derbyan Parakeet, Psittacula derbiana
• Red-breasted Parakeet, Psittacula alexandri
• Long-tailed Parakeet, Psittacula longicauda
• Nicobar Parakeet, Psittacula caniceps

The Rothschild's or Intermediate Parakeet P. intermedia, found in northern India, was considered something of a mystery, as only very few specimens were known. It has finally been demonstrated to be a natural hybrid between the Slaty-headed Parakeet P. himalayana and the Plum-headed Parakeet P. cyanocephala [2][3].

Trivia

1. Though India has eleven species of Psittacula it has not yet issued a stamp depicting any of them.
2. The Nicobar Parakeet, the largest of all 'true parakeets' is the only species of Psittacula not depicted in stamps. It is confined to Nicobar Islands, India and is classified as near-threatened by IUCN.
3. Sierra Leone is the only nation to have a stamp depicting the Malabar Parakeet, a restricted range endemic species confined to South-west India.

References

1. <LI id=_note-0>^ Groombridge, Jim J. et al. (2004): Molecular phylogeny and morphological change in the Psittacula parakeets. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 31(1):96-108. [1] <LI id=_note-1>^ Rasmussen, Pamela C. & Nigel J. Collar (1999a): On the hybrid status of Rothschild's Parakeet Psittacula intermedia (Aves, Psittacidae). Bulletin of the Natural History Museum of London (Zoology) 65(1):31–50.
2. ^ Rasmussen, Pamela C. & Nigel J. Collar (1999b): Little-known Oriental non-bird: Intermediate Parakeet, Psittacula intermedia. Bulletin of the Oriental Bird Club 29:36.

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Shown below: Derbyan Parrot and Plum Headed Parrot