Eunymphicus is a genus of parrots in the family Psittaculidae. The genus is endemic to New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands, and is closely related to the Cyanoramphus parakeets of Oceania.

Eunymphicus
Horned parakeet (E. cornutus)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittaculidae
Tribe: Platycercini
Genus: Eunymphicus
Peters, JL, 1937
Type species
Psittacus cornutus (horned parakeet)

Taxonomy

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The genus Eunymphicus was introduced in 1937 by the American ornithologist James L. Peters with the horned parakeet as the type species.[1] The name combines the Ancient Greek eu meaning "true" and the genus name Nymphicus that had been introduce in 1832 by Johann Georg Wagler for the cockatiel.[2]

The genus now contains two species:[3]

Genus Eunymphicus Peters, JL, 1937 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Horned parakeet

 

Eunymphicus cornutus
(Gmelin, 1788)
New Caledonia Size:

Habitat:

Diet:
 VU 


Ouvea parakeet

 

Eunymphicus uvaeensis
(E.L. & E.L.C. Layard, 1882)
Ouvéa, Loyalty Islands Size:

Habitat:

Diet:
 VU 



 
Horned parakeet, Eunymphicus cornutus (above) and Ouvea parakeet, Eunymphicus uvaensis (below)

References

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  1. ^ Peters, James Lee, ed. (1937). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 3. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. p. 269.
  2. ^ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 152. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  3. ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (January 2022). "Parrots, cockatoos". IOC World Bird List Version 12.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 26 June 2022.