The phylogenetic affinities of the parrot taxa Agapornis, Loriculus and Melopsittacus (Aves: Psittaciformes): hypotarsal morphology supports the results of molecular analyses
2008; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 108; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1071/mu07059
ISSN1448-5540
Autores Tópico(s)Genetic diversity and population structure
ResumoAbstractAbstractThe interrelationships between the currently recognised subtaxa of parrots (Psittaciformes) are poorly understood and even monophyly of some is not well established. A recent phylogenetic analysis of nuclear gene sequences strongly supports a previously unrecognised clade including Agapornis (lovebirds), Melopsittacus (Budgerigar), Cyclopsittini (fig-parrots) and Loriini (lories). In the present study it is shown that these taxa also share a unique derived morphology of the hypotarsus, which further occurs in Loriculus (hanging-parrots) and Micropsitta (pygmy-parrots). It is hypothesised that Agapornis, Loriculus, Micropsitta, Cyclopsittini, Melopsittacus and Loriini form a clade for which the name Loricoloriinae is proposed. The presence of an ossified arcus parahyalis on the hyoid bone further suggests a clade including Cyclopsittini, Melopsittacus and Loriini, which also gained support from analysis of molecular data.
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