Loriini


Loriini is a tribe of small to medium-sized arboreal parrots characterized by their specialized brush-tipped tongues for feeding on nectar of various blossoms and soft fruits, preferably berries. The species form a monophyletic group within the parrot family Psittacidae. The group consist of the lories and lorikeets. Traditionally, they were considered a separate subfamily from the other subfamily based on the specialized characteristics, but recent molecular and morphological studies show that the group is positioned in the middle of various other groups. They are widely distributed throughout the Australasian region, including south-eastern Asia, Polynesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and Australia, and the majority have very brightly coloured plumage.

Etymology

The usage of the terms "lory" and "lorikeet" is subjective, like the usage of "parrot" and "parakeet". Species with longer tapering tails are generally referred to as "lorikeets", while species with short blunt tails are generally referred to as "lories".

Taxonomy

Traditionally, lories and lorikeets have either been classified as the subfamily, Loriinae, or as a family on their own, Loriidae, but they are currently classified as a tribe. Neither traditional view is confirmed by molecular studies. Those studies show that the lories and lorikeets form a single group, closely related to the budgerigar and the fig parrots.
Two main groups are recognized within the lories and lorikeets. The first consist of the genus Charmosyna and the closely related Pacific Ocean genera Phigys and Vini. All remaining genera, except Oreopsittacus are in the second group. The position of Oreopsittacus is unknown, although one study suggests it could be a third group next to the other two.

Species

Classification of parrots in the subfamily, Loriinae:
ImageGenusLiving Species
Chalcopsitta Bonaparte, 1850
Eos Wagler, 1832
  • Black-winged lory, Eos cyanogenia
  • Violet-necked lory, Eos squamata
  • Blue-streaked lory, Eos reticulata
  • Red-and-blue lory, Eos histrio
  • Red lory, Eos bornea
  • Blue-eared lory, Eos semilarvata
    • Pseudeos J.L. Peters, 1935
  • Dusky lory, Pseudeos fuscata
  • Cardinal lory, Pseudeos cardinalis
    • Trichoglossus Stephens, 1826
  • Ornate lorikeet, Trichoglossus ornatus
  • Sunset lorikeet, Trichoglossus forsteni
  • Leaf lorikeet, Trichoglossus weberi
  • Marigold lorikeet, Trichoglossus capestratus
  • Coconut lorikeet, Trichoglossus haematodus
  • Biak lorikeet, Trichoglossus rosenbergi
  • Rainbow lorikeet, Trichoglossus moluccanus
  • Red-collared lorikeet, Trichoglossus rubritorquis
  • Olive-headed lorikeet, Trichoglossus euteles
  • Citrine lorikeet, Trichoglossus flavoviridis
  • Mindanao lorikeet, Trichoglossus johnstoniae
  • Pohnpei lorikeet, Trichoglossus rubiginosus
  • Scaly-breasted lorikeet, Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus
    • Psitteuteles Bonaparte, 1854
  • Varied lorikeet, Psitteuteles versicolor
  • Iris lorikeet, Psitteuteles iris
  • Goldie's lorikeet, Psitteuteles goldiei
    • Lorius Vigors, 1825
  • Purple-bellied lory, Lorius hypoinochrous
  • Black-capped lory, Lorius lory
  • White-naped lory, Lorius albidinuchus
  • Yellow-bibbed lory, Lorius chlorocercus
  • Purple-naped lory, Lorius domicellus
  • Chattering lory, Lorius garrulus
    • Phigys G.R. Gray, 1870
  • Collared lory, Phigys solitarius
    • Vini Lesson, 1833
  • Blue-crowned lorikeet, Vini australis
  • Kuhl's lorikeet, Vini kuhlii
  • Stephen's lorikeet, Vini stepheni
  • Blue lorikeet, Vini peruviana
  • Ultramarine lorikeet, Vini ultramarina
  • †Sinoto's lorikeet, Vini sinotoi
  • †Conquered lorikeet, Vini vidivici
    • Glossopsitta Bonaparte, 1854
  • Musk lorikeet, Glossopsitta concinna
    • Parvipsitta Mathews, 1916
  • Little lorikeet, Parvipsitta pusilla
  • Purple-crowned lorikeet, Parvipsitta porphyrocephala
    • Charmosyna Wagler, 1832
  • Palm lorikeet, Charmosyna palmarum
  • Red-chinned lorikeet, Charmosyna rubrigularis
  • Meek's lorikeet, Charmosyna meeki
  • Blue-fronted lorikeet, Charmosyna toxopei
  • Striated lorikeet, Charmosyna multistriata
  • Pygmy lorikeet, Charmosyna wilhelminae
  • Red-fronted lorikeet, Charmosyna rubronotata
  • Red-flanked lorikeet, Charmosyna placentis
  • †? New Caledonian lorikeet, Charmosyna diadema
  • Red-throated lorikeet, Charmosyna amabilis
  • Duchess lorikeet, Charmosyna margarethae
  • Fairy lorikeet, Charmosyna pulchella
  • Josephine's lorikeet, Charmosyna josefinae
  • Papuan lorikeet, Charmosyna papou
    • Oreopsittacus Salvadori, 1877
  • Plum-faced lorikeet, Oreopsittacus arfaki
    • Neopsittacus Salvadori, 1875
  • Yellow-billed lorikeet, Neopsittacus musschenbroekii
  • Orange-billed lorikeet, Neopsittacus pullicauda''

    • Morphology

    Lories and lorikeets have specialized brush-tipped tongues for feeding on nectar and soft fruits. They can feed from the flowers of about 5,000 species of plants and use their specialized tongues to take the nectar. The tip of their tongues have tufts of papillae, which collect nectar and pollen.
    The multi-coloured rainbow lorikeet was one of the species of parrots appearing in the first edition of The Parrots of the World and also in John Gould's lithographs of the Birds of Australia. Then and now, lories and lorikeets are described as some of the most beautiful species of parrot.

    Diet

    In the wild, rainbow lorikeets feed mainly on pollen and nectar, and possess a tongue adapted especially for their particular diet. Many fruit orchard owners consider them a pest, as they often fly in groups and strip trees containing fresh fruit. They are also frequent visitors at bird feeders that supply lorikeet-friendly treats, such as store-bought nectar, sunflower seeds, and fruits such as apples, grapes and pears. Occasionally they have been observed feeding on meat.

    Conservation

    The ultramarine lorikeet is endangered. It is now one of the 50 rarest birds in the world. The blue lorikeet is classified as vulnerable. The introduction of European rats to the small island habitats of these birds is a major cause of their endangerment. Various conservation efforts have been made to relocate some of these birds to locations free of predation and habitat destruction.

    In literature

    A "Lory" famously appears in Chapter III of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Alice argues with the Lory about its age.

    Gallery