Glossopsitta concinna

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Archosauromorpha
Cladus: Crurotarsi
Divisio: Archosauria
Cladus: Avemetatarsalia
Cladus: Ornithodira
Subtaxon: Dinosauromorpha
Cladus: Dinosauriformes
Cladus: Dracohors
Cladus: Dinosauria
Ordo: Saurischia
Cladus: Eusaurischia
Subordo: Theropoda
Cladus: Neotheropoda
Cladus: Averostra
Cladus: Tetanurae
Cladus: Avetheropoda
Cladus: Coelurosauria
Cladus: Tyrannoraptora
Cladus: Maniraptoromorpha
Cladus: Maniraptoriformes
Cladus: Maniraptora
Cladus: Pennaraptora
Cladus: Paraves
Cladus: Eumaniraptora
Cladus: Avialae
Infraclassis: Aves
Cladus: Euavialae
Cladus: Avebrevicauda
Cladus: Pygostylia
Cladus: Ornithothoraces
Cladus: Ornithuromorpha
Cladus: Carinatae
Parvclassis: Neornithes
Cohors: Neognathae
Cladus: Neoaves
Cladus: Telluraves
Cladus: Australaves
Ordo: Psittaciformes

Familia: Psittaculidae
Subfamilia: Loriinae
Genus: Glossopsitta
Species: Glossopsitta concinna
Name

Glossopsitta concinna (Shaw, 1791)
References

Nat.Misc. 3 pl.87
Vernacular names
English: Musk Lorikeet
日本語: ジャコウインコ

The musk lorikeet (Glossopsitta concinna) is a lorikeet, now the only species in the genus Glossopsitta.[2] It inhabits south-central/eastern Australia. The little lorikeet and the purple-crowned lorikeet were previously included in the genus. The musk lorikeet was first described by ornithologist George Shaw in 1790 as Psittacus concinnus, from a collection in the vicinity of Port Jackson in what is now Sydney. John Latham described it as Psittacus australis. Its specific epithet is the Latin concinna "elegant".[3] Other common names include red-eared lorikeet, and green keet,[4] and formerly a local Sydney indigenous term coolich.[5] The names green leek and king parrot have been incorrectly applied to this species in the past.[4]

Description

The musk lorikeet is 22 centimetres (8.7 in) long. It is mainly green and it is identified by its red forehead, blue crown and a distinctive yellow band on its wing. Both upper and lower mandibles of the beak are red at the tip and darker near its base.
Distribution and habitat

Musk lorikeets are found in eastern New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.[6] They are an uncommon nomad in woodlands and drier forests in south-east mainland, mainly west of Great Dividing Range, and in Tasmania. Musk lorikeets have been sighted and are recent common visitors to fruit trees in the Punchbowl Area, near Launceston, Northern Tasmania. Favourite foods seem to include apricots, apples, bottlebrush flowers & nectar, as well as seeds and nectar from Grevillea spp.
Urban influence

Musk lorikeets are one of the few animals with the plasticity to survive and thrive in rapid urbanization.[7] Over the past 30 years, flocks of musk lorikeets have been adopting Australia's cities, such as Melbourne and Sydney.[8]

The partial reason for musk lorikeets' move to, and success in, urban areas is the planting of various nectar-producing plants throughout the city. They have evolved to consume nectar as a part of their major food source and can be found foraging in the blooming canopies of eucalyptus forests.[9]

Unlike their natural habitat, the city plants are regularly maintained and so they have become a more reliable food source. Because the nectar plants tend to be most dense in the outer urban areas, most of the population prefers the outer urban areas, which allows for more feeding and roosting opportunities, rather than the inner ones. Although, there have been sightings of these lorikeets in the inner city regions but in reduced numbers; most likely from reduced vegetation.[10]

The only Australian nectarivore to not have a preference between the inner city and outer urban zones is the rainbow lorikeet.[10] Both the rainbow lorikeet and the musk lorikeet are nectarivores, which means that their niches overlap and that they must compete against one another for the limited amount of resources available.[10] The growth and resources of the rainbow lorikeet population may limit the growth of the musk lorikeet population, and coupled with the growing urbanization, the musk lorikeet may have more competitive pressures for resources.[10]
Breeding

The musk lorikeet breeds mainly from August to January.[11] The nest is usually built in a hollow limb high in a tree. Two white 24 mm × 20 mm (0.94 in × 0.79 in) eggs are laid and incubated for 22 days by the female.[11] The young are fledged after 5 to 6 weeks.[11]

References

BirdLife International (2016). "Glossopsitta concinna". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22684652A93039528. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22684652A93039528.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
"Zoological Nomenclature Resource: Psittaciformes (Version 9.004)". zoonomen.net. 5 July 2008.
Simpson DP (1979). Cassell's Latin Dictionary (5th ed.). London: Cassell Ltd. p. 883. ISBN 0-304-52257-0.
Lendon, p. 23
Long, George (1841). The Penny Cyclopædia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. London: Charles Knight & Co. p. 90.
"Musk Lorikeet". Australian Museum - Birds in Backyards. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
White 2005
Davis, Taylor & Major 2011
Smith & Lill 2008
Davis, Taylor & Major 2012

Morcombe, Michael (2012) Field Guide to Australian Birds. Pascal Press, Glebe, NSW. Revised edition. ISBN 978174021417-9

Cited texts

Lendon, Alan H. (1973). Australian Parrots in Field and Aviary (2nd ed.). Sydney: Angus and Robertson. ISBN 0-207-12424-8.
Low, Rosemary (1978). Lories and Lorikeets. Melbourne: Inkata Press. ISBN 0-909605-08-4.

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Birds of Australia
Davis, A.; Taylor, C.; Major, R. (2012). "Seasonal abundance and habitat use of Australian parrots in urbanized landscape". Landscape and Urban Planning. 106 (2): 191–198. doi:10.1016/j.landurbplan.2012.03.005.
Davis, A.; Taylor, C.; Major, R. (2011). "Do fire and rainfall drive spatial and temporal population shifts in parrots? A case study using urban parrot populations". Landscape and Urban Planning. 100 (3): 295–301. doi:10.1016/j.landurbplan.2010.12.017.
Smith, J.; Lill, A. (2008). "Importance of eucalypts in exploitation of urban parks by rainbow and musk lorikeets". Emu. 108 (2): 187–195. doi:10.1071/mu07062. S2CID 85774685.
White, J.; et al. (2005). "Non-uniform bird assemblages in urban environments: The influence of streetscape vegetation". Landscape and Urban Planning. 71 (2–4): 123–135. doi:10.1016/j.landurbplan.2004.02.006.