Broad-billed Parrot
Encyclopedia
The Broad-billed Parrot (Lophopsittacus mauritianus) was a parrot
endemic
to the island of Mauritius
that became extinct.
The species was only known from subfossil
bones described by Richard Owen
, before being identified in 17th century descriptions wherein it was referred to as the "Indian Crow" or "Raven", as well as from three drawings. The first description of the bird comes the voyage of Admiral Jacob Cornelis van Neck in 1598:
The last description, and one of the most detailed, is by Johann Christian Hoffman from 1673–5, who stated:
The color may have been bluish gray, and there was a small frontal crest. It was a large, heavy-set parrot, and difference in size of fossil specimens and on the 1601 sketch indicate that the sexes was size dimorphic. It had a long tail and a reduced flight apparatus and may have been flightless, based on some analysis of the 1601 sketch, but this is disputed. The bill was very large, but one author claimed it was comparatively weak and probably adapted to crush the pulp of large fruits so that they could be swallowed, but this has later been refuted, since the mandible morphology matches that of Hyacinth Macaw
, which crack open palm nuts with ease.
s, it is more likely that its real relationships lie with the Psittaculini
radiation
of South(east) Asia — notably, the Eclectus Parrot
, the large-billed Tanygnathus
parrots, and, interestingly, possibly most closely with the rather smallish and nimble Psittacula
parakeets — given that most Mascarene bird species, such as the dodo, derive from Southeast Asian progenitors and that details of their morphology
suggest a close relationship. As Psittacula species actually spread to the Mascarenes, this is not to be understood as if they are very closely related — the most likely scenario is that the "mysterious" Mascarene parrots (Lophopsittacus, Necropsittacus and Mascarinus) are derived from one or several early colonization by the progenitors of today's Psittacula, Lophopsittacus being most strongly differentiated and Necropsittacus having being still rather similar to Psittacula.
, Thirioux’s grey parrot
. Furthermore, there are reports of a small grey parrot from Réunion
, which is now also thought to have been Thirioux’s grey parrot. This has long been the source of confusion surrounding the parrots on Mauritius.
by introduced pigs, Crab-eating Macaque
s, and rats, which fed on the eggs and young of this species, which was in all likelihood ground-nesting (a rare occurrence among parrots, the Kakapo
, the Night Parrot
and the two ground parrot
species being essentially the only species doing so) due to its inability to fly.
Parrot
Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
endemic
Endemism in birds
An endemic bird area is a region of the world that contains two or more restricted-range species, while a "secondary area" contains one or more restricted-range species. Both terms were devised by Birdlife International....
to the island of Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
that became extinct.
Description
Subfossil
Subfossil refers to remains whose fossilization process is not complete, either for lack of time or because the conditions in which they were buried were not optimal for fossilization....
bones described by Richard Owen
Richard Owen
Sir Richard Owen, FRS KCB was an English biologist, comparative anatomist and palaeontologist.Owen is probably best remembered today for coining the word Dinosauria and for his outspoken opposition to Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection...
, before being identified in 17th century descriptions wherein it was referred to as the "Indian Crow" or "Raven", as well as from three drawings. The first description of the bird comes the voyage of Admiral Jacob Cornelis van Neck in 1598:
The last description, and one of the most detailed, is by Johann Christian Hoffman from 1673–5, who stated:
The color may have been bluish gray, and there was a small frontal crest. It was a large, heavy-set parrot, and difference in size of fossil specimens and on the 1601 sketch indicate that the sexes was size dimorphic. It had a long tail and a reduced flight apparatus and may have been flightless, based on some analysis of the 1601 sketch, but this is disputed. The bill was very large, but one author claimed it was comparatively weak and probably adapted to crush the pulp of large fruits so that they could be swallowed, but this has later been refuted, since the mandible morphology matches that of Hyacinth Macaw
Hyacinth Macaw
The Hyacinth Macaw , or Hyacinthine Macaw, is a parrot native to central and eastern South America. With a length of about 100 cm it is longer than any other species of parrot...
, which crack open palm nuts with ease.
Affinities
The affinities of Lophopsittacus are undetermined; despite its appearance and distribution suggesting it was related to the African Grey and Vasa ParrotVasa parrot
The vasa parrots are two species of parrot which are endemic to Madagascar and other islands in the western Indian Ocean.- Taxonomy :There are two species and several subspecies:Coracopsis, Wagler 1832...
s, it is more likely that its real relationships lie with the Psittaculini
Psittaculini
Psittaculini is a tribe of parrots of the Psittacidae family. The subdivisions within the tribe are controversial.-Tribe Psittaculini:* Genus Psittinus** Blue-rumped Parrot, Psittinus cyanurus* Genus Geoffroyus...
radiation
Evolutionary radiation
An evolutionary radiation is an increase in taxonomic diversity or morphological disparity, due to adaptive change or the opening of ecospace. Radiations may affect one clade or many, and be rapid or gradual; where they are rapid, and driven by a single lineage's adaptation to their environment,...
of South(east) Asia — notably, the Eclectus Parrot
Eclectus Parrot
The Eclectus Parrot, Eclectus roratus, is a parrot native to the Solomon Islands, Sumba, New Guinea and nearby islands, northeastern Australia and the Maluku Islands...
, the large-billed Tanygnathus
Tanygnathus
Tanygnathus is a genus of parrots of the Psittaculini tribe.Genus Tanygnathus* Great-billed Parrot, Tanygnathus megalorynchos* Blue-naped Parrot, Tanygnathus lucionensis* Blue-backed Parrot, Tanygnathus sumatranus...
parrots, and, interestingly, possibly most closely with the rather smallish and nimble Psittacula
Psittacula
Members of the parrot genus Psittacula or Afro-Asian Ringnecked parakeets as they are commonly known in aviculture originates 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...
parakeets — given that most Mascarene bird species, such as the dodo, derive from Southeast Asian progenitors and that details of their morphology
Morphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
suggest a close relationship. As Psittacula species actually spread to the Mascarenes, this is not to be understood as if they are very closely related — the most likely scenario is that the "mysterious" Mascarene parrots (Lophopsittacus, Necropsittacus and Mascarinus) are derived from one or several early colonization by the progenitors of today's Psittacula, Lophopsittacus being most strongly differentiated and Necropsittacus having being still rather similar to Psittacula.
Mauritius Grey Parrot
A smaller species of parrot was described in 1973 from very few bones as the Mauritius Grey Parrot, Lophopsittacus bensoni, and some early travelers' records of "small grey parrots", but this has since been reclassified as a species of PsittaculaPsittacula
Members of the parrot genus Psittacula or Afro-Asian Ringnecked parakeets as they are commonly known in aviculture originates 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...
, Thirioux’s grey parrot
Thirioux’s Grey Parrot
Thirioux’s grey parrot , also known as the Mauritius Grey Parrot, is a little-known extinct species of parakeet which used to inhabit Mauritius Island in the western Indian Ocean...
. Furthermore, there are reports of a small grey parrot from Réunion
Réunion
Réunion is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about south west of Mauritius, the nearest island.Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France...
, which is now also thought to have been Thirioux’s grey parrot. This has long been the source of confusion surrounding the parrots on Mauritius.
Causes of Extinction
It became extinct partly due to hunting, but more importantly due to predationPredation
In ecology, predation describes a biological interaction where a predator feeds on its prey . Predators may or may not kill their prey prior to feeding on them, but the act of predation always results in the death of its prey and the eventual absorption of the prey's tissue through consumption...
by introduced pigs, Crab-eating Macaque
Crab-eating Macaque
The Crab-eating macaque is a cercopithecine primate native to Southeast Asia. It is also called the "long-tailed macaque", and is referred to as the "cynomolgus monkey" in laboratories.-Etymology:...
s, and rats, which fed on the eggs and young of this species, which was in all likelihood ground-nesting (a rare occurrence among parrots, the Kakapo
Kakapo
The Kakapo , Strigops habroptila , also called owl parrot, is a species of large, flightless nocturnal parrot endemic to New Zealand...
, the Night Parrot
Night Parrot
The Night Parrot is a small broad-tailed parrot endemic to the continent of Australia. The species was originally placed within its own genus , but most authors now prefer to place it within the genus Pezoporus together with the two ground parrots.No known sightings of the bird were made between...
and the two ground parrot
Ground parrot
There are two species of ground parrot:*Eastern Ground Parrot*Western Ground Parrot...
species being essentially the only species doing so) due to its inability to fly.
External links
- World Parrot Trust Parrot Encyclopedia - Species Profile
- Foundation Dutch Parrot Refuge