Psittacus
| Psittacus | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Congo African grey parrot | |
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|
| Timneh African grey parrot | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Psittaciformes |
| Superfamily: | Psittacoidea |
| Family: | Psittacidae |
| Subfamily: | Psittacinae |
| Genus: | Psittacus |
| Species | |
Psittacus is a genus of African parrots in the subfamily Psittacinae. It contains the two species: the Congo African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) and the Timneh African grey parrot (Psittacus timneh).
For many years, the Congo African grey parrot and Timneh African grey parrot were classified as subspecies; the former as the nominate the latter as P. e. timneh. However, in 2012 the taxa were recognized as separate species by BirdLife International on the basis of genetic, morphological, plumage and vocal differences.
These parrots are found in the primary and secondary rainforest of West and Central Africa. They are one of the most intelligent birds in the world. They feed primarily on palm nuts, seeds, fruits, and leafy matter, but have also been observed eating snails. Their inclination and ability to mimic speech and other sounds have made them popular pets.
Two species are accepted:
Some aviculturalists recognize third and fourth species, but these are not distinguishable in scientific studies.
The African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) has been known at times to contract a non-infectious inflammatory lung disease called lipid pneumonia. Lipid pneumonia can be classified as exogenous or endogenous depending on whether or not the animal inhaled outside material. A necropsy shows that the lungs of a grey parrot with endogenous lipid pneumonia (EnLP) are firm with a diffuse grey discoloration. EnLP is a common illness in other animals as well. The Congo African grey parrot is also one of the three parrots that scientists found to commonly suffer from dehydration. The scientists have used plasma osmolality to find more information about the form of dehydration the African grey parrots have. Another disease that the African grey parrots get is cardiomyopathy which is a heart disease usually presented at a young age. The reason for the is from having parents of the same breed. Some other common symptoms in these birds are weakness, coelomic cavity, and retardation. The African grey parrot has been known to contract beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) which causes a highly contagious and sometimes fatal, psittacine beak and feather disease in parrots. In a PCR-based study, Chlamydiosis an infectious disease of avians was found to infect the African grey parrot. In the study 253 clinical samples were taken from 27 bird species belonging to seven orders. Thirty-two (12.6%) samples were positive for Chlamydi and two new genotypes were discovered: Chlamydophila psittaci and Chlamydophila abortus. Another ailment that African grey parrots commonly suffer from is hypocalcemic-induced seizure activity. Birds between 2–15 years of age contract it centers around a lack of calcium. A symptom of the syndrome can be unsteadiness while standing or falling off a perch along with neurological anomalies or problems.
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Wikipedia