| Oceanic eclectus Temporal range: LatePleistocene toHolocene | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 1793 drawing of a parrot believed to be the Oceanic eclectus parrot | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Psittaciformes |
| Family: | Psittaculidae |
| Genus: | Eclectus |
| Species: | †E. infectus |
| Binomial name | |
| †Eclectus infectus Steadman, 2006 | |
Theoceanic eclectus[2] (Eclectus infectus) is an extinct parrot species which occurred onTonga,Vanuatu and possibly onFiji. Its closest living relative is theeclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus sensu lato), which has proportionally larger wings than the oceanic eclectus parrot. The fossil material unearthed in November 1989 in Late Pleistocene and Holocene deposits on'Eua,Lifuka,'Uiha and Vanuatu and described in 2006 by David William Steadman include a completefemur, fiveradii, aquadrate bone, amandible, acoracoid, twosterna, twohumeri, twoulnae, twotibiotarsi, acarpometacarpus, atarsometatarsus, and three pedalphalanges.[3]
The oceanic eclectus parrot became extinct on Tonga during the early settlement 3000 years ago, presumably due to human-caused factors. OnVava'u, it may have survived into historic times because among the drawings which were created in 1793 duringAlessandro Malaspina's Pacific expedition, there is one sketch which appears to portray an Oceanic eclectus parrot.[4]
Fossil remains of the oceanic eclectus (Eclectus infectus), have been found inarchaeological sites in the islands ofTonga andVanuatu.[5] The species presumably existed inFiji, as well.E. infectus had proportionally smaller wings than theeclectus parrot. The species becameextinct after the arrival of humans 3000 years ago, presumably due to human-caused factors (habitat loss,introduced species).
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