The phylogenetic affinities of the parrot taxa Agapornis, Loriculus and Melopsittacus (Aves: Psittaciformes): hypotarsal morphology supports the results of molecular analyses

Abstract

The 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.