Loriini

Loriini
Collared lory (Vini solitaria), 1876
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Psittaciformes
Family:	Psittaculidae
Subfamily:	Loriinae
Tribe:	Loriini Selby, 1836
Genera
Oreopsittacus Charminetta Hypocharmosyna Charmosynopsis Synorhacma Charmosyna Charmosynoides Vini Neopsittacus Lorius Psitteuteles Parvipsitta Pseudeos Chalcopsitta Glossoptilus Glossopsitta Saudareos Eos Trichoglossus

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.^{[citation needed]} 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 (Loriinae) from the other subfamily (Psittacinae) 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".^[1]

Taxonomy[]

Traditionally, lories and lorikeets have either been classified as the subfamily, Loriinae, or as a family on their own, Loriidae,^[2] 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 (Cyclopsitta and Psittaculirostris).^{[3][4][5][6][7]}

A comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study of the Loriini published in 2020 led to major changes in the generic boundaries. The reorganisation involved the resurrection of four genera: Charminetta, Hypocharmosyna, Charmosynopsis and Glossoptilus, as well as the erection of three entirely new genera: Synorhacma, Charmosynoides and Saudareos. One genus disappeared as the collared lory which had previously been placed in the monotypic genus Phigys was found to be embedded in the genus Vini. The extinct New Caledonian lorikeet, although not sampled, was assumed to be a member of the genus Vini. The tribe Loriini now contains 61 species divided into 19 genera.^[8][9][10]

Genera[]

Image	Genus	Living Species
	Oreopsittacus Salvadori, 1877	Plum-faced lorikeet, Oreopsittacus arfaki
	Charminetta Iredale, 1956	Pygmy lorikeet, Charminetta wilhelminae
	Hypocharmosyna Salvadori, 1891	Red-fronted lorikeet, Hypocharmosyna rubronotata Red-flanked lorikeet, Hypocharmosyna placentis
	Charmosynopsis Salvadori, 1877	Blue-fronted lorikeet, Charmosynopsis toxopei Fairy lorikeet, Charmosynopsis pulchella
	Synorhacma Joseph et al, 2020	Striated lorikeet, Synorhacma multistriata
	Charmosyna Wagler, 1832	Josephine's lorikeet, Charmosyna josefinae Papuan lorikeet, Charmosyna papou Stella's lorikeet, Charmosyna stellae
	Charmosynoides Joseph et al, 2020	Duchess lorikeet, Charmosynoides margarethae
	Vini Lesson, R, 1833	Meek's lorikeet, Vini meeki Red-chinned lorikeet, Vini rubrigularis Palm lorikeet, Vini palmarum Red-throated lorikeet, Vini amabilis † New Caledonian lorikeet, Vini diadema (extinct) Collared lory, Vini solitaria Blue-crowned lorikeet, Vini australis Ultramarine lorikeet, Vini ultramarina Stephen's lorikeet, Vini stepheni Kuhl's lorikeet, Vini kuhlii Blue lorikeet, Vini peruviana
	Neopsittacus Salvadori, 1875	Yellow-billed lorikeet, Neopsittacus musschenbroekii Orange-billed lorikeet, Neopsittacus pullicauda
	Lorius Vigors, 1825	White-naped lory, Lorius albidinuchus Yellow-bibbed lory, Lorius chlorocercus Purple-naped lory, Lorius domicella Chattering lory, Lorius garrulus Purple-bellied lory, Lorius hypoinochrous Black-capped lory, Lorius lory
	Psitteuteles Bonaparte, 1854	Varied lorikeet, Psitteuteles versicolor
	Parvipsitta Mathews, 1916	Purple-crowned lorikeet, Parvipsitta porphyrocephala Little lorikeet, Parvipsitta pusilla
	Pseudeos Peters, JL, 1935	Dusky lory, Pseudeos fuscata Cardinal lory, Pseudeos cardinalis
	Chalcopsitta Bonaparte, 1850	Brown lory, Chalcopsitta duivenbodei Black lory, Chalcopsitta atra Yellowish-streaked lory, Chalcopsitta sintillata
	Glossoptilus Rothschild and Hartert, 1896	Goldie's lorikeet, Glossoptilus goldiei
	Glossopsitta Bonaparte, 1854	Musk lorikeet, Glossopsitta concinna
	Saudareos Joseph et al, 2020	Mindanao lorikeet, Saudareos johnstoniae Iris lorikeet, Saudareos iris Sula lorikeet, Saudareos flavoviridis Yellow-cheeked lorikeet, Saudareos meyeri Ornate lorikeet, Saudareos ornatus
	Eos Wagler, 1832	Blue-streaked lory, Eos reticulata Blue-eared lory, Eos semilarvata Red lory, Eos bornea Black-winged lory, Eos cyanogenia Red-and-blue lory, Eos histrio Violet-necked lory, Eos squamata
	Trichoglossus Stephens, 1826	Pohnpei lorikeet, Trichoglossus rubiginosus Scaly-breasted lorikeet, Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus Coconut lorikeet, Trichoglossus haematodus Biak lorikeet, Trichoglossus rosenbergi Rainbow lorikeet, Trichoglossus moluccanus Red-collared lorikeet, Trichoglossus rubritorquis Olive-headed lorikeet, Trichoglossus euteles Marigold lorikeet, Trichoglossus capestratus Leaf lorikeet, Trichoglossus weberi Sunset lorikeet, Trichoglossus forsteni

Morphology[]

Tongue of a lory

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 (extremely fine hairs), 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^{[by whom?]} as some of the most beautiful species of parrot.

Diet[]

^[relevant?]

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.^[11] Occasionally they have been observed feeding on meat.^[12]

Conservation[]

Rainbow lorikeet drinking

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.^[13] 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[]

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  Black-winged lory

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  Black lories

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  Green-naped lorikeet (subspecies of rainbow lorikeet)

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  Scaly-breasted lorikeet

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  Olive-headed lorikeet

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  Yellowish-streaked lory

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  Musk lorikeet

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  Dusky lory

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  Blue-streaked lory

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  Josephine's lorikeet

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  Papuan lorikeet

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  Australian rainbow lorikeet (subspecies of rainbow lorikeet)

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  Black-capped lory at the Cincinnati Zoo

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  Chattering lory at Jurong Bird Park

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Loriinae.

• ARKive - images and movies of the blue lorikeet/tahitian lory (Vini peruviana)