DOCSLIB.ORG

Cockatoos, Parrots and Parakeets Family PSITTACIDAE

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Cockatoos, Parrots and Parakeets Family PSITTACIDAE Text extracted from Gill B.J.; Bell, B.D.; Chambers, G.K.; Medway, D.G.; Palma, R.L.; Scofield, R.P.; Tennyson, A.J.D.; Worthy, T.H. 2010. Checklist of the birds of New Zealand, Norfolk and Macquarie Islands, and the Ross Dependency, Antarctica. 4th edition. Wellington, Te Papa Press and Ornithological Society of New Zealand. Pages 249, 252-254 & 256-257. Order PSITTACIFORMES: Cockatoos, Parrots and Parakeets New molecular data and analyses support a view that the two subfamilies Strigopinae and Nestorinae form a single clade basal to all other Recent members of the order Psittaciformes (e.g. de Kloet & de Kloet 2005, Astuti et al. 2006, Tokita et al. 2007, Wright et al. 2008). They therefore need to be put in a family of their own (rather than in Psittacidae, e.g. Checklist Committee 1990) placed ahead of Cacatuidae in the systematic list. The name Strigopidae G.R. Gray, 1848 has priority. Family PSITTACIDAE: Typical Parrots Psittacini Illiger, 1811: Prodromus Syst. Mamm. Avium: 195, 200 – Type genus Psittacus Linnaeus, 1758. Subfamily PLATYCERCINAE: Rosellas and Broad-tailed Parrots Platycercine Selby, 1836: Natural History Parrots: 64 – Type genus Platycercus Vigors, 1825. Genus Cyanoramphus Bonaparte Cyanoramphus Bonaparte, 1854: Revue Mag. Zool. 6 (2nd series): 153 – Type species (by subsequent designation) Cyanoramphus zealandicus (Latham, 1790). Cyanorhamphus Sclater, 1858: Journ. Linn. Soc. London, Zoology 2: 164. Unjustified emendation. Bulleria Iredale & Mathews, 1926: Bull. Brit. Ornith. Club 46: 76 – Type species (by original designation) Platycercus unicolor Lear = Cyanoramphus unicolor (Lear). For general discussion of speciation in the genus see Taylor (1985), Boon, Daugherty et al. (2001), Kearvell et al. (2003) and Rawlence (2006). Identifications for fossil bones of Cyanoramphus are tentative because most bones (particularly isolated ones) cannot be reliably assigned to species due to overlap in size. Cyanoramphus auriceps (Kuhl) Yellow-crowned Parakeet Psittacus pacificus variety _ Gmelin, 1788: Syst. Nat., 13th edition 1(1): 329. Based on the “Pacific Parrot, var. C” of Latham 1781, Gen. Synop. Birds 1: 252 – Dusky Sound, Fiordland. Junior primary homonym of Psittacus pacificus Gmelin, 1788. Psittacus auriceps Kuhl, 1820: Nova Acta Acad. Caesarea Leopold.-Carol. 10: 46 – South Island. Platycercus Auriceps (Kuhl); G.R. Gray 1843, in E. Dieffenbach, Travels in N.Z. 2: 193. Trichoglossus Aurifrons; G.R. Gray 1843, in E. Dieffenbach, Travels in N.Z. 2: 193. Not Psittacus aurifrons Lesson, 1831. Cyanoramphus Auriceps (Kuhl); Bonaparte 1854, Revue Mag. Zool. 6 (2nd series): 153. Euphema auriceps (Kuhl); Lichtenstein 1854, Nomencl. Av.: 72. Platycercus auriceps (Kuhl); G.R. Gray, 1862: Ibis 4: 229. Coriphilus auriceps (Kuhl); Schlegel 1864, De Dierentuin: 77. Cyanorhamphus auriceps (Kuhl); Reichenow 1881, Journ. für Ornith. 29: 43. Cyanorhamphus auriceps intermedia Reichenow, 1881: Journ. für Ornith. 29: 44 – New Zealand. Cyanoramphus auriceps auriceps (Kuhl); Mathews & Iredale 1913, Ibis 1 (10th ser.): 426. Cyanoramphus auriceps macleani Mathews & Iredale, 1913: Ibis 1 (10th ser.): 426 – North Island. Cyanoramphus auriceps novana Mathews, 1930: Bull. Brit. Ornith. Club 50: 42 – Birch Ridge, “Maungahaumia” [= Maungahaumi], Gisborne. New Zealand. Now more common on the mainland than the red-crowned parakeet. North Island: mainly restricted to central forested areas and the Tararua Range; present on Manawatäwhi / Three Kings, Hen and Chickens, Hauturu / Little Barrier, Cuvier (Repanga) and Kapiti Islands. South Island: widespread in western Marlborough, Nelson, Westland, inland North Canterbury, western Otago, the Catlins and Fiordland; Chetwode Islands. Present on Stewart Island / Rakiura and outliers (Big and Little Solander, Bench, Ulva, Jacky Lee (Pukeokaoka), Codfish (Whenuahou) and Taukihepa / Big South Cape Islands). Auckland Islands. Cyanoramphus auriceps previously included the subspecies C. a. malherbi (South Island) and C. a. forbesi (Chathams), but these are now listed as full species. Members of C. auriceps formerly present on the Auckland Islands have recently been shown by molecular methods (Rawlence 2006) to be a distinct clade contained within the mainland form, but with some evidence of hybridisation with C. malherbi before 1942–43. There is now extensive hybridisation between C. auriceps and C. n. novaezelandiae on the Auckland Islands (Adams and Enderby) and the former taxon may no longer exist as a discrete genetic entity in these locations; it is retained here as C. auriceps pending publication of further information. .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Foraging Ecology of the World's Only
    Copyright is owned by the Author of the thesis. Permission is given for a copy to be downloaded by an individual for the purpose of research and private study only. The thesis may not be reproduced elsewhere without the permission of the Author. FORAGING ECOLOGY OF THE WORLD’S ONLY POPULATION OF THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED TASMAN PARAKEET (CYANORAMPHUS COOKII), ON NORFOLK ISLAND A thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Conservation Biology at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand. Amy Waldmann 2016 The Tasman parakeet (Cyanoramphus cookii) Photo: L. Ortiz-Catedral© ii ABSTRACT I studied the foraging ecology of the world’s only population of the critically endangered Tasman parakeet (Cyanoramphus cookii) on Norfolk Island, from July 2013 to March 2015. I characterised, for the first time in nearly 30 years of management, the diversity of foods consumed and seasonal trends in foraging heights and foraging group sizes. In addition to field observations, I also collated available information on the feeding biology of the genus Cyanoramphus, to understand the diversity of species and food types consumed by Tasman parakeets and their closest living relatives as a function of bill morphology. I discuss my findings in the context of the conservation of the Tasman parakeet, specifically the impending translocation of the species to Phillip Island. I demonstrate that Tasman parakeets have a broad and flexible diet that includes seeds, fruits, flowers, pollen, sori, sprout rhizomes and bark of 30 native and introduced plant species found within Norfolk Island National Park. Dry seeds (predominantly Araucaria heterophylla) are consumed most frequently during autumn (81% of diet), over a foraging area of ca.
    [Show full text]
  • History of Species Reviewed Under Resolution Conf
    AC17 Inf. 3 (English only/ Solamente en inglés/ Seulement en anglais) HISTORY OF SPECIES REVIEWED UNDER RESOLUTION CONF. 8.9 (Rev.) PART 1: AVES Species Survival Network 2100 L Street NW Washington, DC 20037 July 2001 AC17 Inf. 3 – p. 1 SIGNIFICANT TRADE REVIEW: PHASE 1 NR = none reported Agapornis canus: Madagascar Madagascar established an annual export quota of 3,500 in 1993, pending the results of a survey of the species in the wild (CITES Notification No. 744). Year 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Quota 3500 3500 3500 3500 3500 3500 3500 3200 Exports 4614 5495 5270 3500 6200 • Export quota exceeded in 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1998. From 1994 - 1998, export quota exceeded by a total of 7,579 specimens. • Field project completed in 2000: R. J. Dowsett. Le statut des Perroquets vasa et noir Coracopsis vasa et C. nigra et de l’Inséparable à tête grise Agapornis canus à Madagascar. IUCN. Agapornis fischeri: Tanzania Trade suspended in April 1993 (CITES Notification No. 737). Year 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Quota NR NR NR NR NR NR Exports 300 0 0 2 0 • Field project completed in 1995: Moyer, D. The Status of Fischer’s Lovebird Agapornis fischeri in the United Republic of Tanzania. IUCN. • Agapornis fischeri is classified a Lower Risk/Near Threatened by the IUCN. Amazona aestiva: Argentina 1992 status survey underway. Moratorium on exports 1996 preliminary survey results received quota of 600. Year 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Chick Quota 1036 2480 3150 Juvenile Quota 624 820 1050 Total Quota NR 600 NR 1000 Exports 19 24 130 188 765 AC17 Inf.
    [Show full text]
  • Vocal Learning in Grey Parrots (Psittacus Erithacus): Effects of Social Interaction, Reference, and Context
    The Auk 111(2):300-313, 1994 VOCAL LEARNING IN GREY PARROTS (PSITTACUS ERITHACUS): EFFECTS OF SOCIAL INTERACTION, REFERENCE, AND CONTEXT IRENE M. PEPPERBERG Departmentof Ecologyand EvolutionaryBiology, University of Arizona, Tucson,Arizona 85721, USA ABSTR•cr.--Formany passerines,the extent,timing, and even presenceof allospecificvocal learning can be influencedby the form of input that is received.Little data exist,however, on vocal learning in parrots (Psittacidae). I have previously proposed that such vocallearning proceeds most readily when input is (1) referential,(2) contextuallyapplicable, and (3) interactive.The referentialaspect demonstrates the meaningof the codeto be taught, the contextualaspect demonstrates the use that can be made of the information contained in the code, and the interactive aspectprovides explicit training that is constantlyadjusted to the level of the learner. To obtain information on the relative importanceof thesethree aspectsof input on learning in a mimetic species,I used three different conditionsto train two juvenile Grey Parrots(Psittacus erithacus) to produceEnglish labelsto identify various commonobjects. Each bird experienced:(1) audiotapedtutoring, which was nonreferential, noninteractive,and did not demonstratecontextual applicability; (2) videotapes,which pro- vided reference and limited information about context, but which were noninteractive; and (3) live human tutors, who interactivelymodeled the meaning and use of the labelsto be learned.The birdslearned only from the live tutors.A third parrot,trained on a separateset of labelsby tutorswho provided only limited referenceand contextfor thosevocalizations, learnedto producethat setof labelswithout comprehension.The data suggestthat, even for birds known for their mimetic abilities, social interaction, reference, and full contextual experienceare important factorsin learning to produceand comprehendan allospecificcode. Received22 April 1993,accepted 10 October1993.
    [Show full text]
  • Aspects of the Ecology of Antipodes Island Parakeet ( Cyanoramphus Unicolor) and Reischek's Parakeet ( C
    Aspects of the ecology of Antipodes Island Parakeet ( Cyanoramphus unicolor) and Reischek's Parakeet ( C. novaezelandiae hochstetten) on Antipodes Island, October - November 1995 TERRY C. GREENE Science and Research Unit, Department of Conservation, Private Bag 68-908, Newton, Auckland, New Zealad ABSTRACT Aspects of the ecology of the Antipodes Island Parakeet (Cyanoramphus unicolor) and Reischek's Parakeet (C. novaezelandiae hochstettq were examined at the Antipodes Islands during October and November 1995. Significant differences in diet were detected between the species. Leaves of large tussocks formed the majority of the diet forhtipodes Island Parakeets, whereas tussock flowers comprised much of the diet of Reischek's Parakeet. Significant differences in the diet of these species between this and previous studies were thought to reflect temporal variations in food availability rather than any fundamental shift in dietary preferences. Observations were made of both parakeet species scavenging on bird corpses. Antipodes Island Parakeets were also recorded killing and eating Grey-backed Storm Petrels (Oceanites nereis). One Antipodes Island Parakeet nest was located; clutch size, physical characteristics of the nest and of behaviour during incubation are described. KEYWORDS: Antipodes Island Parakeet, Cyanorampbus unicolor, Reischek's Parakeet, Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae hochstetteri, Antipodes Islands, diet, predation INTRODUCTION Two parakeet species of the genus Cyanorampbus (subfamily: Psittacinae) occur sympatrically on the subantarctic Antipodes Islands. The parakeets form a distinct and significant part of an avifauna otherwise dominated by seabirds. The Antipodes Island Parakeet (Cyanoramphus unicolor) is the largest species of its genus and is endemic to the island group. Reischek's Parakeet (C. novaezelandiae hochstetteri) is also endemic to the Antipodes Islands, and is one of four other subspecies of the nominate Red-crowned Parakeet (C.
    [Show full text]
  • According to Dictionary
    Extinction: The Parrots We’ve Lost By Desi Milpacher The definition of extinction is “the act or process of becoming extinct; a coming to an end or dying out: the extinction of a species.” Once extinction has been determined, there is usually no chance of a species recurring in a given ecosystem. In mankind’s active history of exploration, exploitation and settlement of new worlds, there has been much loss of natural resources. Parrots have suffered tremendously in this, with over twenty species having been permanently lost. And there are many more that are teetering on the edge, towards the interminable abyss. In this article we find out what happened to these lost treasures, learn which ones are currently being lost, and why this is important to our world. The Old and New Worlds and Their Lost Parrots Little is known of the natural history of most of the world’s extinct parrots, mainly because they disappeared before in-depth studies were conducted on them. It is generally believed, save the Central American macaws which were least known, that most fed on diets similar to today’s parrots (leaves, blossoms, seeds, nuts and fruits), frequented heavy forested areas and nested mainly in tree cavities. A number could not fly well, or were exceptionally tame, leading to their easy capture. Nearly all of these natural treasures vanished between the 18th and early 20th centuries, and the main reason for their loss was overhunting. Some lesser causes included egg collecting (popular with naturalists in the 19th century), diseases (introduced or endemic), drought, natural disasters, predation by introduced species, and habitat alternation.
    [Show full text]
  • African Grey Parrots
    African Grey Parrots African Grey Parrot Information The African Grey Parrot, Psittacus erithacus , is a medium-sized parrot native to the primary and secondary rainforests of West and Central Africa. Its mild temperament, clever mind and ability to mimic sounds, including human speech, has made it a highly sought after pet for many centuries. Certain individuals also have a documented ability to understand the meaning of words. African Grey Parrots Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae Tribe: Psittacini Genus: Psittacus Species: Psittacus erithacus The African Grey Parrot is the only recognized species of the genus Psittacus. The genus name “Psittacus” is derived from the word ψιττακος (psittakos ) which means parrot in Ancient Greek. There are two recognized subspecies of African Grey Parrot ( Psittacus erithacus) : 1. Congo African Grey Parrot ( Psittacus erithacus erithacus ) 2. Timneh African Grey Parrot ( Psittacus erithacus timneh ) Congo African Grey Parrot ( Psittacus erithacus erithacus ), commonly referred to as “CAG” by parrot keepers, is larger than the Timneh African Grey Parrot and normally reaches a length of roughly 33 cm. It is found from the south-eastern Ivory Coast to Western Kenya, Northwest Tanzania, Southern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Northern Angola, including the islands of Príncipe and Bioko in the Gulf of Guinea. Adult members of this subspecies are light grey with red tails, pale yellow irises, and an all black beak. Pet Congo African Grey Parrots usually learn to speak quite slowly until their second or third year. Timneh African Grey Parrot ( Psittacus erithacus timneh ), commonly referred to as “TAG” by parrot keepers, is smaller than the Congo subspecies and is endemic to the to the western parts of the moist Upper Guinea forests and nearby West African savannas from Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone and Southern Mali to at least 70 km east of the Bandama River in Côte d’Ivoire.
    [Show full text]
  • 4-2-3-Macquarie-Island-Parakeets
    Science for Saving Species Research findings factsheet Project 4.2.3 Resurrecting the Macquarie Island red-crowned parakeet In brief Macquarie Island, an Australian We aimed to determine which sister red-crowned parakeet (Reischek’s sub-Antarctic island, has undergone species may be most suitable for parakeet) as the most suitable successful eradication of multiple an introduction, restoring roles in species for the introduction to invasive mammals, including the ecosystems that disappeared Macquarie Island. This allows any predators that drove the extinction when the species went extinct. future assessment to focus on of the endemic Macquarie Island this species. We developed a new decision red-crowned parakeet in the 1880s. framework, which can overcome An additional benefit is that the This study examined replacing the the issue of not knowing which introduction offers the opportunity extinct parakeet species with a factors, such as climate and to create an insurance population closely related surviving species. vegetation type, will be of greatest for Reischek’s parakeet, which Four other species of red-crowned importance in determining suitability, occurs on only one small island. parakeets occur on New Zealand by considering a range of scenarios. Our decision framework will be islands that are geographically of use to others pursuing Applying this framework consistently close and environmentally similar restorative island restoration. identified the Antipodes Island to Macquarie Island. Red-crowned parakeet Cyanoramphus. n. novaezelandiae, Enderby Island. Image: Aleks Terauds Further Information Justine Shaw - [email protected] Hannah Wauchope - [email protected] Megaherbs (Pleurophyllum hookeri) on Macquarie Island. image: Justine Shaw Coastal habitat on Macquarie Island.
    [Show full text]
  • Success of Translocations of Red-Fronted Parakeets
    Conservation Evidence (2010) 7, 21-26 www.ConservationEvidence.com Success of translocations of red-fronted parakeets Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae novaezelandiae from Little Barrier Island (Hauturu) to Motuihe Island, Auckland, New Zealand Luis Ortiz-Catedral* & Dianne H. Brunton Ecology and Conservation Group, Institute of Natural Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 102-904, Auckland, New Zealand * Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected] SUMMARY The red-fronted parakeet Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae is a vulnerable New Zealand endemic with a fragmented distribution, mostly inhabiting offshore islands free of introduced mammalian predators. Four populations have been established since the 1970s using captive-bred or wild-sourced individuals translocated to islands undergoing ecological restoration. To establish a new population in the Hauraki Gulf, North Island, a total of 31 parakeets were transferred from Little Barrier Island (Hauturu) to Motuihe Island in May 2008 and a further 18 in March 2009. Overall 55% and 42% of individuals from the first translocation were confirmed alive at 30 and 60 days post-release, respectively. Evidence of nesting and unassisted dispersal to a neighbouring island was observed within a year of release. These are outcomes are promising and indicate that translocation from a remnant wild population to an island free of introduced predators is a useful conservation tool to expand the geographic range of red-fronted parakeets. BACKGROUND mammalian predators and undergoing ecological restoration, Motuihe Island. The avifauna of New Zealand is presently considered to be the world’s most extinction- Little Barrier Island (c. 3,000 ha; 36 °12’S, prone (Sekercioglu et al. 2004). Currently, 77 175 °04’E) lies in the Hauraki Gulf of approximately 280 extant native species are approximately 80 km north of Auckland City considered threatened of which approximately (North Island), and is New Zealand’s oldest 30% are listed as Critically Endangered wildlife reserve, established in 1894 (Cometti (Miskelly et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Poicephalus Senegalus Linnaeus, 1766
    AC22 Doc. 10.2 Annex 2 Poicephalus senegalus Linnaeus, 1766 FAMILY: Psittacidae COMMON NAMES: Senegal Parrot (English); Perroquet à Tête Grise, Perroquet Youyou, Youyou (French); Lorito Senegalés, Papagayo Senegalés (Spanish). GLOBAL CONSERVATION STATUS: Listed as Least Concern A1bcd in the 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN, 2004). SIGNIFICANT TRADE REVIEW FOR: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo Range States selected for review Range State Exports* Urgent, Comments possible or least concern Benin 0Least concern No exports reported. Burkina Faso 13Least concern Exports minimal. Cameroon 1,687Least concern Significant exports only recorded in 1997 and 1998 Chad 0Least concern No exports reported. Côte d’Ivoire 1,193Least concern Significant exports only recorded in 2002 and 2003; if exports increase further information would be required to support non-detriment findings Gambia 12Least concern Exports minimal. Ghana 1Least concern Exports minimal. Guinea 164,817Possible Exports have declined since 1998, but remain significant. Further information concern required to confirm non-detrimental nature of exports. Guinea- 132Least concern Exports minimal. Bissau Liberia 4,860Possible Not believed to be a range country for this species but significant exports concern reported 1999-2003 whose origin should be clarified Mali 60,742Possible Exports have increased significantly since 2000. Status of the species is poorly concern known; no systematic population monitoring. Mauritania 0Least concern No exports reported. Niger 0Least concern No exports reported. Nigeria 301Least concern Exports minimal. Senegal 173,794Possible Consistently exported high numbers since 1982; species apparently remains concern common but no population monitoring known to be in place Sierra Leone 0Least concern No exports reported.
    [Show full text]
  • Of Parrots 3 Other Major Groups of Parrots 16
    ONE What are the Parrots and Where Did They Come From? The Evolutionary History of the Parrots CONTENTS The Marvelous Diversity of Parrots 3 Other Major Groups of Parrots 16 Reconstructing Evolutionary History 5 Box 1. Ancient DNA Reveals the Evolutionary Relationships of the Fossils, Bones, and Genes 5 Carolina Parakeet 19 The Evolution of Parrots 8 How and When the Parrots Diversified 25 Parrots’ Ancestors and Closest Some Parrot Enigmas 29 Relatives 8 What Is a Budgerigar? 29 The Most Primitive Parrot 13 How Have Different Body Shapes Evolved in The Most Basal Clade of Parrots 15 the Parrots? 32 THE MARVELOUS DIVERSITY OF PARROTS The parrots are one of the most marvelously diverse groups of birds in the world. They daz- zle the beholder with every color in the rainbow (figure 3). They range in size from tiny pygmy parrots weighing just over 10 grams to giant macaws weighing over a kilogram. They consume a wide variety of foods, including fruit, seeds, nectar, insects, and in a few cases, flesh. They produce large repertoires of sounds, ranging from grating squawks to cheery whistles to, more rarely, long melodious songs. They inhabit a broad array of habitats, from lowland tropical rainforest to high-altitude tundra to desert scrubland to urban jungle. They range over every continent but Antarctica, and inhabit some of the most far-flung islands on the planet. They include some of the most endangered species on Earth and some of the most rapidly expanding and aggressive invaders of human-altered landscapes. Increasingly, research into the lives of wild parrots is revealing that they exhibit a corresponding variety of mating systems, communication signals, social organizations, mental capacities, and life spans.
    [Show full text]
  • USE of SUB-SAHARAN VULTURES in TRADITIONAL MEDICINE and CONSERVATION and POLICY ISSUES for the AFRICAN GREY PARROT (Psittacus Er
    Clemson University TigerPrints All Theses Theses 12-2010 USE OF SUB-SAHARAN VULTURES IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE AND CONSERVATION AND POLICY ISSUES FOR THE AFRICAN GREY PARROT (Psittacus erithacus) Kristina Dunn Clemson University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_theses Part of the Environmental Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Dunn, Kristina, "USE OF SUB-SAHARAN VULTURES IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE AND CONSERVATION AND POLICY ISSUES FOR THE AFRICAN GREY PARROT (Psittacus erithacus)" (2010). All Theses. 1036. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_theses/1036 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses at TigerPrints. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Theses by an authorized administrator of TigerPrints. For more information, please contact [email protected]. USE OF SUB-SAHARAN VULTURES IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE AND CONSERVATION AND POLICY ISSUES FOR THE AFRICAN GREY PARROT ( Psittacus erithacus ) A Thesis Presented to the Graduate School of Clemson University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science Wildlife and Fisheries Biology by Kristina Michele Dunn December 2010 Accepted by: Dr. William W. Bowerman, Committee Chair Dr. Karen C. Hall Dr. Webb M. Smathers Jr. ABSTRACT Wildlife populations worldwide are being negatively affected by the illegal wildlife trade. The severity of the impact to both Sub-Saharan vultures and African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus ) (AGP) populations are explored in this thesis. Many species of Sub-Saharan vultures are used in the traditional medicinal trade. Previous studies have found that vultures have mystical powers attributed to them due to their keen ability to find food.
    [Show full text]
  • Acquisition of the Same/Different Concept by an African Grey Parrot (Psittacus Erithacus): Learning with Respect to Categories of Color, Shape, and Material
    Animal Learning & Behavior 1987, 15 (4), 423-432 Acquisition of the same/different concept by an African Grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus): Learning with respect to categories of color, shape, and material IRENE M. PEPPERBERG Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois An African Grey parrot, previously taught to use vocal English labels to discriminate more than 80 different objects and to respond to questions concerning categorical concepts of color and shape, was trained and tested on relational concepts of same and different. The subject, Alex, replied with the correct English categorical label ("color," "shape," or "mah-mah" [matter]) when asked "What's same?" or "What's different?" about pairs of objects that varied with respect to any combination of attributes. His accuracy was 69.7%-76.6% for pairs of familiar objects not used in training and 82.3%-85% for pairs involving objects whose combinations of colors, shapes, and materials were unfamiliar. Additional trials demonstrated that his responses were based upon the question being posed as well as the attributes of the objects. These findings are dis­ cussed in terms of his comprehension of the categories of color, shape, and material and as evi­ dence of his competence in an exceptional (non-species-specific) communication code. Recent studies (Pepperberg, 1987a, 1987b) have shown ity of animals to master nonrelational concepts, several that at least one avian subject, an African Grey parrot researchers suggest that existing data on relational con­ (Psittacus erithacus) , can exhibit capacities once thought cepts reflect qualitative as well as quantitative species to belong exclusively to humans and, possibly, certain differences.
    [Show full text]