Coracopsinae
| Vasa parrot | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Lesser vasa parrot | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Psittaciformes |
| Superfamily: | Psittacoidea |
| Family: | Psittaculidae |
| Subfamily: | Coracopsinae |
| Genus: |
Coracopsis Wagler, 1832 |
| Species | |
The vasa parrots (Coracopsis) are three species of parrot which are endemic to Madagascar and other islands in the western Indian Ocean. Some taxonomists place the genus in Mascarinus.
There are three to four species and several subspecies:
Coracopsis, Wagler 1832
A 2011 genetic study found the Mascarene parrot from Réunion to be nested among the subspecies of the lesser vasa parrot from Madagascar and nearby islands, and therefore not related to the Psittacula parrots. It also found that the Mascarene parrot line diverged 4.6 to 9 million years ago, prior to the formation of Réunion, indicating this must have happened elsewhere. The cladogram accompanying the study is shown below:
Coracopsis vasa drouhardii (W Madagascar)
Coracopsis vasa vasa (E Madagascar)
Coracopsis nigra barklyi (Praslin Island (Seychelles))
Mascarinus mascarinus (Reunion (Mascarenes))
Coracopsis nigra siblans (Comoros)
Coracopsis nigra nigra (E Madagascar)
Coracopsis nigra libs (W Madagascar)
Another group of scientists later acknowledged the finding, but pointed out that the sample might have been damaged, and that further testing was needed before the issue could be fully resolved. They also noted that if Mascarinus was confirmed to be embedded within the Coracopsis genus, the latter would become a junior synonym, since the former name is older. Hume has expressed surprise by these findings, due to the anatomical similarities between the Mascarene parrot and other parrots from the islands that are believed to be psittaculines.
They are notable in the parrot world for their peculiar appearance, which includes extremely truncated bodies with long necks, black to grey feathers and a pink beak.
The skin of both female and male vasas turns yellow during the breeding season, and there is often feather loss. However in females the feather loss can result in complete baldness. Another interesting feature of the females breeding physiology is when her feathers, which are usually black to grey, turn brown without a moult. This is caused by the redistribution of melanin, which is the pigment that makes the vasas' feathers black.
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Wikipedia