Psittacula
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223718649
2008-07-05T12:43:27Z
Snowmanradio
626138
binomial name
{{Taxobox
| name = ''Psittacula''
| image = Rose-ringed Parakeet (Male) I IMG 9141.jpg
| image_width = 225px
| image_caption = [[Rose-ringed Parakeet]]<br>(''Psittacula krameri manillensis'')
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[bird|Aves]]
| ordo = [[Psittaciformes]]
| familia = [[Psittacidae]]
| subfamilia = [[Psittacinae]]
| tribus = [[Psittaculini]]
| genus = '''''Psittacula'''''
| genus_authority = [[Georges Cuvier|Cuvier]], 1800
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = more than 15, see text
}}
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 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.
==Species and [[phylogeny]]==
*[[Newton's Parakeet]], ''Psittacula exsul'' - [[extinct]] (c.1875)
*[[Réunion Parakeet]], ''Psittacula (eques) eques'' - [[extinct]] (mid-18th century)
*[[Mauritius Parakeet]], ''Psittacula (eques) echo''
*[[Rose-ringed Parakeet]], ''Psittacula krameri''
*[[Alexandrine Parakeet]], ''Psittacula eupatria''
*[[Seychelles Parakeet]], ''Psittacula wardi'' - [[extinct]] (1883)
*[[Plum-headed Parakeet]], ''Psittacula cyanocephala''
*[[Blossom-headed Parakeet]], ''Psittacula roseata''
*[[Slaty-headed Parakeet]], ''Psittacula himalayana''
*[[Grey-headed Parakeet]], ''Psittacula finschii''
*[[Malabar Parakeet]], ''Psittacula columboides''
[[Image:Psittacula.jpg|frame|right|Phylogeny of the genus ''Psittacula'' based on existing molecular evidence <ref>Groombridge, Jim J. ''et al.'' (2004): Molecular phylogeny and morphological change in the Psittacula parakeets. ''[[Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution]]'' '''31'''(1):96-108. [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WNH-49MF065-4&_user=3446078&_handle=V-WA-A-W-BW-MsSAYZA-UUW-U-AAVDVEDWCA-AAVCUDYUCA-DEDWBUDUV-BW-U&_fmt=summary&_coverDate=04%2F30%2F2004&_rdoc=9&_orig=browse&_srch=%23toc%236963%232004%23999689998%23484485!&_cdi=6963&view=c&_acct=C000054272&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=3446078&md5=6a3c0046f80767ddfe7a6478fbd2365b]</ref>. Species with red lines are currently unplaced in the phylogeny, but do belong to this genus.]]
*[[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 (biology)|hybrid]] between the Slaty-headed Parakeet ''P. himalayana'' and the Plum-headed Parakeet ''P. cyanocephala'' <ref>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.</ref><ref>Rasmussen, Pamela C. & Nigel J. Collar (1999b): Little-known Oriental non-bird: Intermediate Parakeet, ''Psittacula intermedia''. ''[[Bulletin of the Oriental Bird Club]]'' '''29''':36.</ref>.
==Trivia==
# Though [[India]] has eleven species of ''Psittacula'' it has not yet issued a stamp depicting any of them.
# The [[Alexandrine Parakeet]], the largest of all 'true parakeets' (i.e. where Parakeet is a non-species' specific qualitative word meaning LONG-tailed Parrot)
# [[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==
<references />
==External links==
{{commonscat_show2|Psittacula|Psittacidae}}
*[http://home.wanadoo.nl/psittaculaworld/PsittaculaWorld.htm Psittacula World]
*[http://www.birdtheme.org/scripts/family.php?famnum=74 Stamps featuring Parrots including ''Psittacula'']
*[http://www.edelsittich.de/ Images and German Descriptions]
[[Category:Genera of birds]]
[[Category:Parrots]]
[[Category:Psittacula|*]]
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