Psittacinae

Taxobox
name = Psittacinae


image_width = 210px
image_caption = Alexandrine Parakeet
("Psittacula eupatria")
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Psittaciformes
familia = Psittacidae
subfamilia = Psittacinae
subdivision_ranks = Tribes
subdivision = see text

The Psittacinae (Latin "psittacinus", from "psittacus" parrot, from Greek "psittakosis"Verify source|date=April 2008 ) a subfamily in the parrot family Psittacidae. It contains the true parrots, parakeets and macaws, but "not" the lories, lorikeets and cockatoos. The relationships between tribes are confusing and systematics are in need of thorough revision

Sometimes most tribes are raised to the rank of subfamilies but as the lories and lorikeets are a rather distinct group, the system used here seems at present still better to reflect the evolutionary relationships of these birds. It seems fairly certain by now that some lineages of psittacines will eventually be recognized as distinct subfamilies, and that perhaps the cockatoos would be considered a subfamily also, as some prehistoric families of Psittaciformes appear to be even more distinct than the cockatoos are.

If a multi-subfamily approach is preferred, the Psittacinae are restricted to the African parrots, possibly including some Asian (but not Australian) groups also.

Three monotypic (probably) genera from the Mascarenes, all extinct, are especially enigmatic in their relationships. They are geographically closest to the Psittacini, but probably belong to the Psittaculini and originated in South or Southwest Asia:

* Mascarene Parrot, "Mascarinus mascarinus"
* Broad-billed Parrot, "Lophopsittacus mauritianus"
* Mauritius Grey Parrot, "Lophopsittacus bensoni" (disputed)
* Rodrigues Parrot, "Necropsittacus rodericanus"
* Réunion Red-and-green Parakeet "Necropsittacus borbonicus" (disputed)

Tribes

*Psittrichadini (Pesquet's Parrot)
*Nestorini (Kea and relatives)
*Strigopini (Kakapo)
*Micropsittini (Pygmy parrots)
*Cyclopsitticini (Fig parrots)
*Platycercini (Broad-tailed parrots)
*Psittaculini (Asian psittacines)
*Psittacini (African parrots)
*Arini (American psittacines) - polyphyletic?

Captive breeding

Psittaculture comes from The Psittacinae (Latin psittacinus, from psittacus parrot, from Greek psittakosis{check) It is one branch of the science of Aviculture

"Psittaculturist"{Parrot Breeder}person who specialize in keeping and breeding and conserving psittacines species, also on preserving psittacines habitat, and public awareness campaigns to save parrots.

Psittaculture is a word that has been used in the Aviculture community since the early 1970s, to denote people who specialize in keeping and breeding and conserving psittacines species, also on preserving psittacines habitat, and public awareness campaigns to save parrots.

External links

* [http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/research/parrot/articles.htm Psittacine Research Project]