Aratinga
Encyclopedia
Aratinga is a genus
of American
parakeet
s. They belong to the long-tailed group and are among the genera often called conure
s in aviculture
. Most are predominantly green, although a few are predominantly yellow or orange. They are social and commonly seen in groups in the wild. In Brazil
the popular name of several species usually is Jandaia, sometimes written as Jandaya in the scientific form.
Many species from this genus are popular pets, although being larger than the members of the genus Pyrrhura
, they need a sizable aviary
to thrive.
The taxonomy
of this genus is unresolved with clear indication that the genus as currently defined is paraphyletic. Several clusters of species, complexes, are recognized in this genus, with variying degrees of understanding, such as the Aratinga solstitialis complex, A. mitrata complex, A. holochlora complex, and A. pertinax (-complex). Additionally, the Golden Parakeet has been included in Aratinga, but is now generally placed in the monotypic
Guarouba. The Guadeloupe Parakeet
(Aratinga labati) is an hypothetical extinct species that has been postulated based on little evidence.
A fossil species from the Late Pleistocene
of Ecuador
was described as Aratinga roosevelti.
described a population of small parrots living on Guadeloupe
, which have been postulated to be a separate species based on little evidence. They were called Conurus labati, and are now referred to as the Guadeloupe Parakeet
(Aratinga labati). There are no specimens or remains of the extinct parrots. Their taxonomy may never be fully elucidated, and so their postulated status as a separate species is hypothetical, and it is regarded as a hypothetical extinct species
.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of American
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
parakeet
Parakeet
Parakeet is a term for any one of a large number of unrelated small to medium sized species of parrot, that generally have long tail feathers...
s. They belong to the long-tailed group and are among the genera often called conure
Conure
Conures are a diverse, loosely-defined group of small to medium-sized parrots. They belong to several genera within a long-tailed group of the New World Parrot subfamily Arinae. The term "conure" is used primarily in bird keeping, though it has appeared in some scientific journals...
s in aviculture
Aviculture
Aviculture is the practice of keeping and breeding birds and the culture that forms around it. Aviculture is generally focused on not only the raising and breeding of birds, but also on preserving avian habitat, and public awareness campaigns....
. Most are predominantly green, although a few are predominantly yellow or orange. They are social and commonly seen in groups in the wild. In Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
the popular name of several species usually is Jandaia, sometimes written as Jandaya in the scientific form.
Many species from this genus are popular pets, although being larger than the members of the genus Pyrrhura
Pyrrhura
Pyrrhura is a genus of parrots in the Arini tribe. They occur in tropical and subtropical South America and southern Central America . Most are restricted to humid forest and adjacent habitats, but one species, the Blaze-winged Parakeet, prefers deciduous or gallery woodland, and another, the...
, they need a sizable aviary
Aviary
An aviary is a large enclosure for confining birds. Unlike cages, aviaries allow birds a larger living space where they can fly; hence, aviaries are also sometimes known as flight cages...
to thrive.
The taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
of this genus is unresolved with clear indication that the genus as currently defined is paraphyletic. Several clusters of species, complexes, are recognized in this genus, with variying degrees of understanding, such as the Aratinga solstitialis complex, A. mitrata complex, A. holochlora complex, and A. pertinax (-complex). Additionally, the Golden Parakeet has been included in Aratinga, but is now generally placed in the monotypic
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
Guarouba. The Guadeloupe Parakeet
Guadeloupe Parakeet
The Guadeloupe Parakeet might have been a species of parrot that was endemic to Guadeloupe.Jean-Baptiste Labat described a population of small parrots living on Guadeloupe, which have been postulated to be a separate species based on little evidence. They were called Conurus labati, and are now...
(Aratinga labati) is an hypothetical extinct species that has been postulated based on little evidence.
Species
- Aratinga acuticaudata, Blue-crowned Parakeet, Blue-crowned Conure, Sharp-tailed Conure
- Aratinga holochlora, Green Parakeet, Green Conure
- Aratinga (holochlora) strenua, Pacific Parakeet, Nicaraguan Green Conure
- Aratinga (holochlora) brevipes, Socorro Parakeet
- Aratinga (holochlora) rubritorquis, Red-throated Parakeet
- Aratinga wagleri, Scarlet-fronted Parakeet
- Aratinga mitrata, Mitred Parakeet, Mitred Conure
- Aratinga (mitrata) alticola, Chapman's Parakeet (proposed as a species in 2006, but still considered a subspeciesSubspeciesSubspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
by most authorities)
- Aratinga (mitrata) alticola, Chapman's Parakeet (proposed as a species in 2006, but still considered a subspecies
- Aratinga hockingi, Hocking's Parakeet (described as new to scienceBird species new to science described in the 2000sThis page details the bird species described as new to science in the years 2000 to 2010:-Number of species described per year:-Countries with high numbers of newly described species:* Brazil* Colombia* Peru* Indonesia-2000:...
in 2006, but not yet widely recognized) - Aratinga erythrogenys, Red-masked Parakeet, Cherry-headed Conure
- Aratinga finschi, Finsch's Parakeet
- Aratinga leucophthalma, White-eyed Parakeet, White-eyed Conure
- Aratinga euops, Cuban Parakeet
- Aratinga chloroptera, Hispaniolan Parakeet
- Aratinga labati, Guadeloupe Parakeet (hypothetical extinct speciesHypothetical extinct speciesSeveral extinct species have been postulated, but owing to a lack of evidence they can only be regarded as hypothetical extinct species. They have caused confusion, as they may have been a separate species, a subspecies, or an introduced species.-Parrots:...
) - Aratinga solstitialis, Sun Parakeet, Sun Conure
- Aratinga (solstitialis) maculata, Sulphur-breasted Parakeet
- Aratinga (solstitialis) jandaya, Jandaya Parakeet, Jenday Conure
- Aratinga (solstitialis) auricapilla, Golden-capped Parakeet
- Aratinga weddellii, Dusky-headed Parakeet, Dusky-headed Conure, Weddell's Conure
- Aratinga nana, Olive-throated Parakeet
- Aratinga (nana) nana, Jamaican Parakeet
- Aratinga (nana) astec, Aztec Parakeet
- Aratinga canicularis, Orange-fronted Parakeet, Orange-fronted Conure, Half-moon Conure
- Aratinga aurea, Peach-fronted Parakeet
- Aratinga pertinax, Brown-throated Parakeet, St. Thomas Conure
- Aratinga cactorum, Caatinga Parakeet, Cactus Parakeet
A fossil species from the Late Pleistocene
Late Pleistocene
The Late Pleistocene is a stage of the Pleistocene Epoch. The beginning of the stage is defined by the base of the Eemian interglacial phase before the final glacial episode of the Pleistocene 126,000 ± 5,000 years ago. The end of the stage is defined exactly at 10,000 Carbon-14 years BP...
of Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
was described as Aratinga roosevelti.
Hypothetical extinct species
Jean-Baptiste LabatJean-Baptiste Labat
Jean-Baptiste Labat was a French clergyman, botanist, writer, explorer, ethnographer, soldier, engineer, and landowner.-Life:...
described a population of small parrots living on Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
, which have been postulated to be a separate species based on little evidence. They were called Conurus labati, and are now referred to as the Guadeloupe Parakeet
Guadeloupe Parakeet
The Guadeloupe Parakeet might have been a species of parrot that was endemic to Guadeloupe.Jean-Baptiste Labat described a population of small parrots living on Guadeloupe, which have been postulated to be a separate species based on little evidence. They were called Conurus labati, and are now...
(Aratinga labati). There are no specimens or remains of the extinct parrots. Their taxonomy may never be fully elucidated, and so their postulated status as a separate species is hypothetical, and it is regarded as a hypothetical extinct species
Hypothetical extinct species
Several extinct species have been postulated, but owing to a lack of evidence they can only be regarded as hypothetical extinct species. They have caused confusion, as they may have been a separate species, a subspecies, or an introduced species.-Parrots:...
.