<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Parrots (Psittaciformes) are a unique and diverse avian group and vary tremendously in size, shape, and colour. Mainly distributed throughout the tropics and subtropics, most species of parrots are largely or exclusively arboreal with several exceptions. The species also differ in diet and habitat, which led to different musculoskeletal adaptations of the skull. However, parrots have conspicuous generalized external features; in this recent study, we tried to increase our knowledge of the cranial shape and foraging habits. A geometric morphometric approach was used to analyse two-dimensional cranial landmarks. We used principal component (PC) analyses on measurements that may be related to diet. The PCs described the relative height of the <italic>cranium</italic>, the relative length and curvature of the beak, differences in the orientation and curvature of the lacrimal bone and the upper margin of orbits, variation in the size and position of the palatine bone and the relative width of the <italic>cranium,</italic> and variation in the relative size of the <italic>neurocranium</italic> compared to the <italic>viscerocranium</italic>. The dietary categories overlap in the morphospace but the analysis in lateral and ventral view resulted in significant differences.</p></abstract>

Parrots (Psittaciformes) are a unique and diverse avian group and vary tremendously in size, shape, and colour. Mainly distributed throughout the tropics and subtropics, most species of parrots are largely or exclusively arboreal with several exceptions. The species also differ in diet and habitat, which led to different musculoskeletal adaptations of the skull. However, parrots have conspicuous generalized external features; in this recent study, we tried to increase our knowledge of the cranial shape and foraging habits. A geometric morphometric approach was used to analyse two-dimensional cranial landmarks. We used principal component (PC) analyses on measurements that may be related to diet. The PCs described the relative height of the cranium, the relative length and curvature of the beak, differences in the orientation and curvature of the lacrimal bone and the upper margin of orbits, variation in the size and position of the palatine bone and the relative width of the cranium, and variation in the relative size of the neurocranium compared to the viscerocranium. The dietary categories overlap in the morphospace but the analysis in lateral and ventral view resulted in significant differences.

Skull morphometric characters in parrots (Psittaciformes)

Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology

Department of Anatomy, Cell- and Developmental Biology

Ornis Hungarica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

{"article-title":"Skull morphometric characters in parrots (Psittaciformes)"}

Parrots (Psittaciformes) are a unique and diverse avian group and vary tremendously in size, shape, and colour. Mainly distributed throughout the tropics and...

Skull morphometric characters in parrots (Psittaciformes)

Published Online: Jul 09, 2020

Page range: 104 - 120

Received: Apr 24, 2020

Accepted: Jun 03, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2020-0008

Keywords
cranial morphology, morphometrics, anatomy, jaw, skull, shape, convergent evolution, parrot, diet preference, bill shape

© 2020 Tibor Pecsics et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Skull morphometric characters in parrots (Psittaciformes)

Published Online: Jul 09, 2020

Page range: 104 - 120

Received: Apr 24, 2020

Accepted: Jun 03, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2020-0008

Keywordscranial morphology, morphometrics, anatomy, jaw, skull, shape, convergent evolution, parrot, diet preference, bill shape

© 2020 Tibor Pecsics et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
cranial morphology, morphometrics, anatomy, jaw, skull, shape, convergent evolution, parrot, diet preference, bill shape