Loriini

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Loriini
Collared lory (Vini solitaria), 1876
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittaculidae
Subfamily: Loriinae
Tribe: Loriini
Selby, 1836
Genera

Oreopsittacus
Charminetta
Hypocharmosyna
Charmosynopsis
Synorhacma
Charmosyna
Charmosynoides
Vini
Neopsittacus
Lorius
Psitteuteles
Parvipsitta
Pseudeos
Chalcopsitta
Glossoptilus
Glossopsitta
Saudareos
Eos
Trichoglossus

Loriini is a tribe of small to medium-sized arboreal parrots characterized by their specialized brush-tipped tongues for feeding on nectar of various blossoms and soft fruits, preferably berries.[1] The species form a monophyletic group within the parrot family Psittaculidae. The group consists of the lories and lorikeets. Traditionally, they were considered a separate subfamily (Loriinae) from the other subfamily (Psittacinae) based on the specialized characteristics, but recent molecular and morphological studies show that the group is positioned in the middle of various other groups. They are widely distributed throughout the Australasian region, including south-eastern Asia, Polynesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and Australia, and the majority have very brightly coloured plumage.

Etymology[edit]

The word "lory" comes from the Malay lūri, a name used for a number of species of colourful parrots.[2] The name was used by the Dutch writer Johan Nieuhof in 1682 in a book describing his travels in the East Indies.[3] The spelling "laurey" was used by English naturalist Eleazar Albin in 1731 for a species of parrot from Brazil,[4] and then in 1751 the English naturalist George Edwards used the spelling "lory" when introducing names for five species of parrot from the East Indies in the fourth volume of his A Natural History of Uncommon Birds. Edwards credited Nieuhof for the name.[5]

The choice of the terms "lory" and "lorikeet" is subjective, like the use of "parrot" and "parakeet". Species with longer tapering tails are generally referred to as "lorikeets", while species with short blunt tails are generally referred to as "lories".[6]

Taxonomy[edit]

Traditionally, lories and lorikeets have either been classified as the subfamily, Loriinae, or as a family on their own, Loriidae,[7] but they are currently classified as a tribe. Neither traditional view is confirmed by molecular studies. Those studies show that the lories and lorikeets form a single group, closely related to the budgerigar and the fig parrots (Cyclopsitta and Psittaculirostris).[8][9][10][11][12]

A comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study of the Loriini published in 2020 led to major changes in the generic boundaries. The reorganisation involved the resurrection of four genera: Charminetta, Hypocharmosyna, Charmosynopsis and Glossoptilus, as well as the erection of three entirely new genera: Synorhacma, Charmosynoides and Saudareos. One genus disappeared, as the collared lory, which had previously been placed in the monotypic genus Phigys, was found to be embedded in the genus Vini. The extinct New Caledonian lorikeet, although not sampled, was assumed to be a member of the genus Vini on plumage and biogeographic grounds. The tribe Loriini now contains 61 species divided into 19 genera.[13][14][15]

Loriini

Oreopsittacus – Plum-faced lorikeet

Charminetta – Pygmy lorikeet

Hypocharmosyna – 2 species

Charmosynopsis – 2 species

Synorhacma – Striated lorikeet

Charmosyna – 3 species

Charmosynoides – Duchess lorikeet

Vini – 11 species

Neopsittacus – 2 species

Lorius – 6 species

Psitteuteles – Varied lorikeet

Parvipsitta – 2 species

Pseudeos – 2 species

Chalcopsitta – 3 species

Glossoptilus – Goldie's lorikeet

Glossopsitta – Musk lorikeet

Saudareos – 5 species

Eos – 6 species

Trichoglossus – 10 species

Phylogeny of the Loriini based on a genetic study published in 2020.[13][14][15]

Genera[edit]

Image Genus Living Species
Oreopsittacus Salvadori, 1877
Charminetta Iredale, 1956
Hypocharmosyna Salvadori, 1891
Charmosynopsis Salvadori, 1877
Synorhacma Joseph et al, 2020
Charmosyna Wagler, 1832
Charmosynoides Joseph et al, 2020
Vini Lesson, R, 1833
Neopsittacus Salvadori, 1875
Lorius Vigors, 1825
Psitteuteles Bonaparte, 1854
Parvipsitta Mathews, 1916
Pseudeos Peters, JL, 1935
Chalcopsitta Bonaparte, 1850
Glossoptilus Rothschild and Hartert, 1896
Glossopsitta Bonaparte, 1854
Saudareos Joseph et al, 2020
Eos Wagler, 1832
Trichoglossus Stephens, 1826

Morphology[edit]

Tongue of a lory

Lories and lorikeets have specialized brush-tipped tongues for feeding on nectar and soft fruits. They can feed from the flowers of about 5,000 species of plants and use their specialized tongues to take the nectar. The tip of their tongues have tufts of papillae (extremely fine hairs), which collect nectar and pollen.

The multi-coloured rainbow lorikeet was one of the species of parrots appearing in the first edition of The Parrots of the World and also in John Gould's lithographs of the Birds of Australia.

Diet[edit]

In the wild, rainbow lorikeets feed mainly on pollen and nectar, and possess a tongue adapted especially for their particular diet. Many fruit orchard owners consider them a pest, as they often fly in groups and strip trees containing fresh fruit. They are also frequent visitors at bird feeders that supply lorikeet-friendly treats, such as store-bought nectar, sunflower seeds, and fruits such as apples, grapes and pears.[16] Occasionally they have been observed feeding on meat.[17]

Conservation[edit]

Rainbow lorikeet drinking

The ultramarine lorikeet is endangered. It is now one of the 50 rarest birds in the world. The blue lorikeet is classified as vulnerable. The introduction of European rats to the small island habitats of these birds is a major cause of their endangerment.[18] Various conservation efforts have been made to relocate some of these birds to locations free of predation and habitat destruction.

In literature[edit]

A "Lory" famously appears in Chapter III of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Alice argues with the Lory about its age.

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "lorikeet | bird | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
  2. ^ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London, UK: Christopher Helm. p. 231. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4 – via Internet Archive (archive.org).
  3. ^ Nieuhof, Johan (1662). Zee en lant-reize, door verscheide gewesten van Oostindien [A Journey by Sea and Land through Various Regions of the East Indies] (in Dutch). Amsterdam, NL: Jacob van Meurs. p. 287. Behelzende veele zeltzaame en wonderlijke voorvallen en geschiedenissen. Beneffens een beschrijving van lantschappen, steden, dieren, gewassen, draghten, zeden en godsdienst der inwoonders en inzonderheit een wijtloopig verhael der stad Batavia. Containing many rare and wonderful incidents and histories. Besides a description of the landscapes, cities, animals, crops, customs, manners, and religion of the inhabitants, and in particular a partial story of the city of Batavia.
  4. ^ Albin, Eleazar; Derham, William (1731). A Natural History of Birds: Illustrated with a hundred and one copper plates, curiously engraven from the life. Vol. 1. London, UK: Printed for the author and sold by William Innys. p. 13, Plate 13.
  5. ^ Edwards, George (1751). A Natural History of Uncommon Birds. Vol. Part 4. London, UK: Printed for the author at the College of Physicians. pp. 170–174.
  6. ^ Low, Rosemary (1998). Hancock House Encyclopedia of the Lories. Hancock House. pp. 85–87. ISBN 0-88839-413-6.
  7. ^ Forshaw, Joseph M.; Cooper, William T. (1981) [1973, 1978]. Parrots of the World (corrected second ed.). David & Charles, Newton Abbot, London. ISBN 0-7153-7698-5.
  8. ^ Wright, T.F.; Schirtzinger, E.E.; Matsumoto, T.; Eberhard, J.R.; Graves, G.R.; Sanchez, J.J.; Capelli, S.; Müller, H.; Scharpegge, J.; Chambers, G.K.; Fleischer, R.C. (2008). "A multilocus molecular phylogeny of the parrots (Psittaciformes): Support for a Gondwanan origin during the Cretaceous". Molecular Biology and Evolution. 25 (10): 2141–2156. doi:10.1093/molbev/msn160. PMC 2727385.
  9. ^ Astuti, Dwi; Azuma, Noriko; Suzuki, Hitoshi; Higashi, Seigo (2006). "Phylogenetic relationships within parrots (Psittacidae) inferred from mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene sequences". Zoological Science. 23 (2): 191–98. doi:10.2108/zsj.23.191. hdl:2115/54809. PMID 16603811. S2CID 35879495.
  10. ^ de Kloet, RS; de Kloet SR (2005). "The evolution of the spindlin gene in birds: Sequence analysis of an intron of the spindlin W and Z gene reveals four major divisions of the Psittaciformes". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 36 (3): 706–721. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.03.013. PMID 16099384.
  11. ^ Tokita, M; Kiyoshi T; Armstrong KN (2007). "Evolution of craniofacial novelty in parrots through developmental modularity and heterochrony". Evolution & Development. 9 (6): 590–601. doi:10.1111/j.1525-142X.2007.00199.x. PMID 17976055. S2CID 46659963. Archived from the original on 2012-10-05.
  12. ^ Christidis, L., L.; Schodde, R.; Shaw, D. D.; Maynes, S. F. (1991). "Relationships among the Australo-Papuan parrots, lorikeets, and cockatoos (Aves, Psittaciformes) - protein evidence". Condor. 93 (2): 302–17. doi:10.2307/1368946. JSTOR 1368946.
  13. ^ a b Smith, B.T.; Mauck, W.M.I.; Benz, B.W.; Andersen, M.J. (2020). "Uneven missing data skew phylogenomic relationships within the lories and lorikeets". Genome Biology and Evolution. 12 (7): 1131–1147. doi:10.1093/gbe/evaa113. PMC 7486955.
  14. ^ a b Joseph, L.; Merwin, J.; Smith, B.T. (2020). "Improved systematics of lorikeets reflects their evolutionary history and frames conservation priorities". Emu - Austral Ornithology. 120 (3): 201–215. doi:10.1080/01584197.2020.1779596.
  15. ^ a b Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (July 2021). "Parrots, cockatoos". IOC World Bird List Version 11.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  16. ^ "Rainbow Lorikeet / Rainbow Lory aka Green Naped Lory / Lorikeet". www.beautyofbirds.com. Retrieved 2017-10-17.
  17. ^ "Meat-eating rainbow lorikeets puzzle bird experts". ABC News. 2015-03-23. Retrieved 2017-10-17.
  18. ^ Steadman D, (2006). Extinction and Biogeography in Tropical Pacific Birds, University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-77142-7

External links[edit]