Kingdom Animalia Order Psittaciformes Family Psittaculidae Scientific name Psittacula wardi Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Superfamily Psittacoidea Subfamily Psittaculinae Higher classification Psittacula | |
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Similar Newton's parakeet, Bird, Parrot, Broad‑billed parrot, Mascarene parrot | ||
The Seychelles parakeet (Psittacula wardi) occurred in the Indian Ocean islands of the Seychelles group. It resembled the Alexandrine parakeet but was smaller and lacked the pink colour in its collar. The species is suspected to have become extinct due to intense persecution by farmers and coconut plantation owners.
Contents
Taxonomy
Phylogenetic studies suggest that the species diverged from the Alexandrine parakeet through isolation of populations that dispersed through the Indian Subcontinent into Seychelles about 11 million years ago when sea levels were much lower.
It was endemic to Mahé and Silhouette and was once sighted on Praslin. It was rare when described even in 1867. The last specimens were collected by Warry in 1881, and the last birds recorded in captivity on Silhouette in 1883. Ten specimens exist today. The species was extinct by 1906 when Nicoll visited the island. It seems to have been affected by the felling of forests to make way for coconut plantations, and died out as a result of being killed by farmers protecting their maize crops.
The following cladogram shows the phylogenetic position of the Seychelles parakeet, according to Jackson et al., 2015:
Description
The Seychelles parakeet was a medium-sized parrot with a length of about 41 cm (16.1 in). It was green with a large red beak, a red shoulder patch and a long tail. The male had a narrow black cheek-band and black collar which the female and juvenile lacked.
Behaviour and ecology
Psittacula wardi was endemic to Mahé and Silhouette, Seychelles, with a sight record from Praslin.
The Seychelles parakeet is believed to have had a diet of bugs found in the bushes or trees, and probably also consumed fruit and seeds.