A molecular phylogeny of the genus Psittacula sensu lato (Aves: Psittaciformes: Psittacidae: Psittacula, Psittinus, Tanygnathus, †Mascarinus) with taxonomic implications 

Abstract

The long-tailed parakeets of the genus Psittacula Cuvier, 1800 have thus far been regarded as a homogeneous and monophyletic group of parrots. We used nucleotide sequences of two genetic markers (mitochondrial CYTB, nuclear RAG-1) to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships of Psittacula and closely related species. We found that the Asian genus Psittacula is apparently paraphyletic because two genera of short-tailed parrots, Psittinus Blyth, 1842 and Tanygnathus Wagler, 1832, cluster within Psittacula, as does †Mascarinus Lesson, 1830. To create monophyletic genera, we propose recognition of the following genera: Himalayapsitta Braun, 2016 for P. himalayana, P. finschii, P. roseata, and P. cyanocephala; Nicopsitta Braun, 2016 for P. columboides and P. calthrapae; Belocercus S. Müller, 1847 for P. longicauda; Psittacula Cuvier, 1800 for P. alexandri and P. derbiana; Palaeornis Vigors, 1825 for †P. wardi and P. eupatria; and Alexandrinus Braun, 2016 for P. krameri, †P. exsul, and P. (eques) echo. Additionally, Psittacula krameri and P. alexandri are paraphyletic species, which should be split to form monophyletic species.

Complete mitogenome of endemic Plum-headed parakeetPsittacula cyanocephala– characterization and phylogenetic analysis

“…and genetic proximity to Psittacula roseata [8,14]. A number of studies on evolutionary, morphological, and systematic aspects of the Psittacula genus have highlighted taxonomic ambiguities such as the paraphyletic nature of certain species and cladding of the genus Tanygnathus within the genus Psittacula [8,14,15,16].…”

“…A number of studies on evolutionary, morphological, and systematic aspects of the Psittacula genus have highlighted taxonomic ambiguities such as the paraphyletic nature of certain species and cladding of the genus Tanygnathus within the genus Psittacula [8,14,15,16]. Recently, Braun and coworkers reconstructed the phylogenetic tree of Psittacula and other closely related species using differences in nucleotide sequences of two genetic markers (mitochondrial cob and nuclear rag1 gene) and observed that the Asian genus Psittacula is paraphyletic [8]. To create monophyletic genera, Braun and coworkers proposed the recognition of genus Himalayapsitta Braun, 2016 for P. himalayana, P. finschii, P. roseata, and P. cyanocephala [8].…”

“…Recently, Braun and coworkers reconstructed the phylogenetic tree of Psittacula and other closely related species using differences in nucleotide sequences of two genetic markers (mitochondrial cob and nuclear rag1 gene) and observed that the Asian genus Psittacula is paraphyletic [8]. To create monophyletic genera, Braun and coworkers proposed the recognition of genus Himalayapsitta Braun, 2016 for P. himalayana, P. finschii, P. roseata, and P. cyanocephala [8]. However, the suggested taxonomic revision needs further confirmation using complete mitochondrial genome data.…”

“…Plum-headed parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala, a species belonging to the genus Psittacula (consisting of 16 long tailed parakeet species of which 13 are extant and 3 extinct) [8], is endemic to Indian sub-continent [9]. This parakeet belongs to one of those bird species which has been widely impacted by illegal live bird trade [10].…”

The first complete mitochondrial genome of Blossom-headed Parakeet Psittacula roseata (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae)

“…Molecular studies supported closely related with P. roseata and P. cyanocephala by highly probability based on cytochrome-b gene (Kundu et al 2012). Psittacula roseata was the basal lineage within Himalayapsitta cluster, P. cyanocephala-finschii were a sister clade to P. roseate based on cytochrome-b gene, RAG-1 (Braun et al 2019). The complete mitochondrial genome of P. roseata has not been determined and characterized until now.…”