''Aratinga'' is a
genus of South American
conure
Conures are a diverse, loosely defined group of small to medium-sized parrots. They belong to several genera within a long-tailed group of the New World parrot subfamily Arinae. The term "conure" is used primarily in bird keeping, though it has ...
s. Most are predominantly green, although a few are predominantly yellow or orange. They are social and commonly seen in groups in the wild. In
Brazil, the popular name of several species usually is ''jandaia'', sometimes written as ''jandaya'' in the scientific form.
Many species from this genus are popular pets, although being larger than the members of the genus ''
Pyrrhura
''Pyrrhura'' (Greek
Red/Fire Tail) is a genus of parrots in the Arini tribe. They occur in tropical and subtropical South America and southern Central America (Panama and Costa Rica). Most are restricted to humid forest and adjacent habitats ...
'', they need a sizable
aviary
An aviary is a large enclosure for confining birds, although bats may also be considered for display. Unlike birdcages, aviaries allow birds a larger living space where Bird flight, they can fly; hence, aviaries are also sometimes known as fligh ...
to thrive.
Taxonomy
The genus ''Aratinga'' was introduced in 1824 by the German naturalist
Johann Baptist von Spix
Johann Baptist Ritter von Spix (9 February 1781 – 13 March 1826) was a German biologist. From his expedition to Brazil, he brought to Germany a large variety of specimens of plants, insects, mammals, birds, amphibians and fish. They constitute ...
. The
type species was subsequently designated as the
sun parakeet
The sun parakeet (''Aratinga solstitialis''), also known in aviculture as the sun conure, is a medium-sized, vibrantly colored parrot native to northeastern South America. The adult male and female are similar in appearance, with black beaks, pre ...
. The genus name is from the extinct
Tupi language of Brasil. ''Ará tinga'' means "bright bird" or "bright parrot".
The
taxonomy of this genus has recently been resolved by splitting it in four genera, as the genus as previously defined was
paraphyletic.
Eupsittula
''Eupsittula'' is a genus of South and Middle American parakeets in the tribe Arini. Until 2013, all the species were believed to belong to the genus ''Aratinga''. Some of the ''Eupsittula'' species are kept in aviculture or as companion parr ...
'' (brownish-throated species), ''Psittacara
''Psittacara'' is a genus of parakeets in the tribe Arini. Species of the genus are found in Central and South America, the Caribbean and one species reaching the southern United States. Until 2013, all the species were placed in the genus ''Ar ...
'' (pale-beaked species) and '' Thectocercus'' (blue-crowned parakeet).[ Furthermore, the closely related ]nanday parakeet
The nanday parakeet (''Aratinga nenday''), also known as the black-hooded parakeet or nanday conure, is a medium-small, mostly green, Neotropical parrot native to continental South America.
Taxonomy
The nanday parakeet was previously regarded as ...
(''A. nenday'') and the dusky-headed parakeet
The dusky-headed parakeet (''Aratinga weddellii''), also known as Weddell's conure or dusky-headed conure in aviculture, is a small green Neotropical parrot with dusty grey head found in wooded habitats in the western Amazon basin of South Ameri ...
(''A. weddellii'') are placed in this genus. The nanday parakeet was previously placed in its own genus based on the differences in coloration and elongated upper mandible, but this was not supported by phylogenetic
In biology, phylogenetics (; from Greek φυλή/ φῦλον [] "tribe, clan, race", and wikt:γενετικός, γενετικός [] "origin, source, birth") is the study of the evolutionary history and relationships among or within groups o ...
studies that showed a close relationship with the ''A. solstitialis'' species complex.
Species
Hypothetical extinct species
Jean-Baptiste Labat
Jean-Baptiste Labat (sometimes called, simply, Père Labat) (1663 – 6 January 1738) was a French clergyman, botanist, writer, explorer, ethnographer, soldier, engineer, and landowner.
Life
Labat was born and died in Paris. He entered the ...
described a population of small parrots living on Guadeloupe, which has been postulated to be a separate species based on little evidence. They were called ''Conurus labati'', and are now referred to as the Guadeloupe parakeet (''Aratinga labati''). No specimens or remains of the extinct parrots are known. Their taxonomy may never be fully elucidated, so their postulated status as a separate species is hypothetical, and it is regarded as a hypothetical extinct species
Several species have been assumed to exist, but due to a lack of evidence they can only be regarded as potential species. They have caused confusion, as they may have been a separate species, a subspecies, an introduced species or a misidentifica ...
.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q776138
Arini (tribe)
Bird genera
Taxa named by Johann Baptist von Spix