NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Puerto Rican Parrot

The Puerto Rican Parrot (Amazona vittata) is an endemic parrot of the archipelago of Puerto Rico belonging to the Amazona genus of the Psittacidae family. Another common name for the Puerto Rican Parrot is Iguaca, an onomatopoeic name given by Taínos that resembled the sound the parrots make when they take flight. This article is a parent page for a series of articles providing information about endemism among birds in the Worlds various zoogeographic zones. ... It has been suggested that True parrots be merged into this article or section. ... The Mergui Archipelago An archipelago is a landform which consists of a chain or cluster of islands. ... In linguistics and poetry, onomatopoeia is the device of a word, or occasionally, a grouping of words, with a sound imitating the sound it is describing, such as bang, click, fizz, hush or buzz. Onomatopoetic words exist in every language, although they are different in each. ... The reconstruction of Taino village, Cuba The TaÃno are pre-Colombian indigenous inhabitants of the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and some of the Lesser Antilles. ...

The species is the only remaining native parrot in United States territory and one of the 10 most endangered bird species in the world. Conservation efforts were started in 1968 to save this species from likely extinction. As of 2006 the total wild population is estimated at 44 individuals. The critically endangered Siberian Tiger, a rare subspecies of tiger. ...

Biology

Physical description

The Puerto Rican Parrot has green feathers with black edges, a red forehead and white ovals around the eyes. The underside of its feathers have a slightly different hue with the wings' underside feathers, which can be seen during flight, being brightly blue and the tail's being yellow-green. Sexual dimorphism is not present in this species. Aside from invasive DNA-sexing sexes can only be distinguished by behavioral differences during the breeding season. Puerto Rican parrots measure from 28 to 30 cm and weigh from 250 to 300 grams with an average of 275 grams. The Puerto Rican Parrot, compared to other Amazona sp., is small but is of a similar size to other Amazona species of the Greater Antilles. Its closest relatives are believed to be the Jamaican Black-billed Parrot (Amazona agilis) and the Hispaniolan Parrot (Amazona ventralis).^[2] Two feathers Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds. ... An image with the hues cyclically shifted The hues in the image of this Painted Bunting are cyclically rotated with time. ... Female (left) and male Common Pheasant, illustrating the dramatic difference in both color and size between the sexes Sexual dimorphism is the systematic difference in form between individuals of different sex in the same species. ... The Greater Antilles, an island group in the Caribbean Sea, are part of the Antilles. ... Binomial name Amazona agilis (Linnaeus, 1758) The Black-billed Amazon, Amazona agilis, is a parrot endemic to Jamaica. ...

Population and distribution

At the time of Columbus's arrival to Puerto Rico in 1493 the Puerto Rican Parrot was widespread and abundant. Evidence suggests that it may have also inhabited the island of Antigua^[3] and the Virgin Islands.^[4] During the latter half of the 19th century most of Puerto Rico's virgin forests, historical habitat of the species, were cleared to allow for agricultural development, primarily for sugar production. In the early 20th century the species was extirpated from Puerto Rico's smaller islands—Culebra (1912), Vieques and Mona—and became restricted to five locations: two in karst-limestone areas, two in high montane rain forests and one in mangrove forest at the foot of the Caribbean National Forest. By 1940 the species was restricted to primary forest at the Luquillo Mountains in the Caribbean National Forest. Christopher Columbus (Genoa?, Italy, 1451? â€“ Valladolid, Spain, May 20, 1506) was a navigator and maritime explorer credited as the discoverer of the Americas. ... Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. ... Karst topography is a three-dimensional landscape shaped by the dissolution of a soluble layer or layers of bedrock, usually carbonate rock such as limestone or dolomite. ... Above and below water view at the edge of the mangal. ...

Historically the species occurred in eight mature or old-growth forests in Puerto Rico at all elevations and in holes in cliffs and other diverse habitats at lower elevations. The species could be found at medium elevations at the Guajataca State Forest until 1910 and in the Rio Abajo State Forest until the 1920s and at high elevations in the Carite State Forest until the 1930s.^[5] The present elevation for the species is between 396 to 823 meters (1,300 and 2,700 feet). Since the species needs mature forests with open-cavity trees for reproduction dwarf and second growth forests are not inhabited. The current range of the species is 16 km², 0.2% of its former range.^[1] The Trango Towers in Pakistan have the highest cliffs in the world In geography, a cliff is a significant vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure. ...

Early population estimates vary greatly with some authorities claiming more than one million individuals^[2] while others propose a more modest amount of 100,000 individuals. During the first 150 years of Spanish rule the human population was small. In 1650, when the population of the island was 880 people, the species was still abundant throughout the archipelago.^[4] After 1650 the human population increased exponentially and the Puerto Rican Parrot population started to decline. Heinrich Moritz Gaede, a German naturalist, declared that by 1836 the parrot population had noticeably declined.^[4] In the 1950s the population declined to 200 individuals. This trend continued, reaching an absolute low of 13 individuals in 1975. A short-lived recovery followed and in August 1989 the population was estimated at a minimum of 47 individuals. However, on September 18, 1989, Hurricane Hugo struck the northeast coast of Puerto Rico inflicting heavy casualties on the remaining individuals. In the aftermath of the hurricane the population was estimated at 23 individuals. Presently, the population is estimated at 44 individuals.^[6] September 18 is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years). ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Lowest pressure 918 mbar (hPa) Damage $10 billion (1989 USD) $13. ...

Diet

The Puerto Rican Parrot, as all other Psittaciformes sp. (parrots), is a herbivore. Its diet consists of flowers, fruits, leaves, bark and nectar obtained from the forest's canopy. Presently, the species has been recorded to consume more than 60 different materials. Historically, because it had a larger range, its diet was more varied. Among the items it presently consumes are the pericarp of the seeds of sierra palm (Prestoea montana), tabonuco (Dacrycodes excelsa), and negra lora (Matayba domingensis); the fruits of bejuco de rana (Marcgravia sintenisii), camasey (Miconia sintenisii), cupey de altura (Clusia gundlachii), and palo de cruz (Rheedia portoricensis); the flowers of bejuco de rana, achiotillo (Alchornea latifolia), and Piptocarpha tetrantha; the leaves and twigs of cupeillo (Clusia grisebachiana), laurel sabino (Magnolia splendens), caimitillo verde (Micropholis garciniaefolia), and Piptocarpha tetrantha; the bark of bejuco de rana, cupeillo, and cachimbo cumun (Psychotria berteriana); and the buds of cuaba (Inga vera). A deer and two fawns feeding on some foliage A herbivore is often defined as any organism that eats only plants[1]. By that definition, many fungi, some bacteria, many animals, about 1% of flowering plants and some protists can be considered herbivores. ... The canopy is the habitat found at the uppermost level of a forest, especially rainforest. ... In biology, the range of an species is the geographical area within which that species can be found. ... Exocarp or pericarp (Gr. ... Flower buds have not yet bloomed into a full-size flower. ...

Reproduction

Puerto Rican Parrots are secondary cavity nesters; they nest in tree trunk cavities that cannot be made by themselves. The species mainly nests in palo colorado trees (Cyrilla racemiflora) with other trees, such as the laurel sabino (Magnolia splendens) and tabonuco (Dacryodes excelsa) used to a lesser extent. These trees are mature cavity forming trees which provide protection against predators and the entry of water. Recently, the species also nests in artificial wooden boxes designed as part of the recovery plan for the species. Nest height varies from 7 to 15 meters above ground. Males usually lead the search for nest sites and once a site is selected, the pair spend some time inspecting and cleaning it. No lining material is added to the nest. Binomial name Cyrilla racemiflora L. Cyrilla racemiflora, the sole species in the genus Cyrilla, is a flowering plant in the family Cyrillaceae, native to warm temperate to tropical regions of the Americas, from the southeastern United States (coastal areas from southeastern Texas east to southeastern Virginia), south through the Caribbean... This snapping turtle is trying to make a meal of a Canada goose, but the goose is too wary. ...

Puerto Rican Parrots reach sexual maturity at 4 years of age in the wild and at 3 years in captivity. The species usually mates for life and normally reproduces once a year during the dry season, between the months of January and July. The female lays from 2 to 4 eggs which are incubated exclusively by her for a period of 24 to 28 days. The chicks are fed by both parents until they leave the nest 60 to 65 days after they hatch.^[7] Nonetheless, they remain dependent of their parents and travel with them until the next breeding season.^[8] Sexual maturity is the stage at which an organism can reproduce. ... A baby chicken Look up chick in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Threats and conservation efforts

The Puerto Rican Parrot is one of the 10 most endangered bird species in the world. It entered the United States Endangered Species list on March 11, 1967 and in 1968 recovery efforts began to increase the population in the wild. In 1972, when the estimated population was 16 individuals, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service at the Luquillo Aviary began efforts to breed parrots in captivity. Conservation efforts have paid off remarkably. In June 2006 it was reported by the USFWS that its birds in captivity had successfully hatched 39 chicks (the yearly average is around 16). Presently, the total wild population is estimated at 44 individuals. The critically endangered Siberian Tiger, a rare subspecies of tiger. ... The critically endangered Siberian Tiger, a rare subspecies of tiger. ... March 11 is the 70th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (71st in leap years). ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... The USFWS logo The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a unit of the United States Department of the Interior that is dedicated to managing and preserving wildlife. ...

Threats

Arguably the main reason for the population decline of the Puerto Rican Parrot is man. Early settlers of Puerto Rico, such as the Taíno, hunted the Puerto Rican Parrot for food consumption but managed to maintain a healthy ecological balance. More recently, habitat destruction, capture of immature individuals for the pet industry, hunting, and predation have contributed to the sharp population decline. It is believed that the main reason for the decline of population is the clearing of mature forests for agricultural development.

Natural predators of the Puerto Rican Parrot include the Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), the Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus), the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) and the Pearly-eyed Thrasher (Margarops fuscatus). Competition from introduced honeybees (Apis melifera) for nesting cavities also represent a threat to the species. Introduced Black rats (Rattus rattus) and mongooses (Herpestes javanicus) may eat eggs and chicks and may also compete for nesting cavities. Red-tailed hawk from USGS Source: USGS National Wildlife Health Center File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Red-tailed hawk from USGS Source: USGS National Wildlife Health Center File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Binomial name Buteo jamaicensis (Gmelin, 1788) The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is a large Buteo which breeds from western Alaska and northern Canada to Panama and the West Indies. ... Binomial name Buteo platypterus (Vieillot, 1823) The Broad-winged Hawk, Buteo platypterus, is a small hawk. ... Binomial name Falco peregrinus Tunstall, 1771 The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), sometimes formerly known in North America as Duck Hawk, is a medium-sized falcon about the size of a large crow: 380-530 millimetres (15-21 in) long. ... Binomial name Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758 The Western honeybee or European honeybee (Apis mellifera) is a species of honeybee comprised of several subspecies or races. ... Binomial name Rattus rattus (Linnaeus, 1758) Black Rat range The Black Rat (Rattus rattus, also known as the Asian black rat, ship rat, roof rat or house rat) is a common long-tailed rodent of the genus Rattus (Old World rodents) and the subfamily murinae (murine rodents). ... Subfamiles Herpestinae A mongoose is a member of the family of small cat-like carnivores. ...

Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, were not historically a threat to the Puerto Rican Parrot population, however, as a result of the fragmentation and reduction of the population these disasters are a threat to the species. On September 1989 Hurricane Hugo passed through the species's current range and reduced the population from 47 to 23 individuals.

Recovery plan

Due to the low population and endangered status of the Puerto Rican parrot a recovery plan was drafted and implemented in 1968. Its main objective was to downlist the species to threatened status by the year 2020.^[2] Other objectives included the establishment of two separate, effective, wild populations (500 or more individuals for 5 years), the protection of habitat for those populations and the control of predators, parasites and competitors of the species.

In 1973, as part of the conservation efforts, a captive population was established in the Luquillo Aviary. Another captive population was established in 1993 when some individuals where transferred from the Luquillo Aviary to the Rio Abajo State Forest under the administration of the Puerto Rican Department of Natural Resources (Departamento de Recursos Naturales).

Contents

Biology

Physical description

Population and distribution

Diet

Reproduction

Threats and conservation efforts

Threats

Recovery plan

See also

Footnotes

References

External links

Contents

Biology GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Physical description

Population and distribution

Diet

Reproduction

Threats and conservation efforts

Threats

Recovery plan

See also

Footnotes

References

External links

Biology