Conure - Scientific Classification

Scientific Classification

The word conure is an old term and was originally used as a descriptive name for the members of the no longer-used genus Conurus, which included the members of Aratinga and Pyrrhura.

The parrot order Psittaciformes is a rather confusing tangle of genera, many containing only one species. Parrots or Psittacines (order Psittaciformes) includes about 353 species of bird which are generally grouped into two families: the Cacatuidae or cockatoos, and the Psittacidae or true parrots. The term parrot is generally used for both the entire order as well as for the Psittacidae alone.

All members of the Psittaciformes order have a characteristic curved beak shape with the upper mandible having slight mobility in the joint with the skull and a generally erect stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two back. See Parrot.

The conures and all other New World parrots are often placed in a subfamily or tribe Arinae. Internal relationships of conures are poorly understood though it seems evident that, to make them a natural grouping, the Quaker parakeet, the thick-billed parrot, and Brotogeris should be included, and often are. neotropical parrots, macaws, and other are also candidates potential for inclusion. In this scheme, "conure" would comprise members of the genera:

• Aratinga
• Pyrrhura
• Nandayus--(now an Aratinga species)
• Guarouba--(The Queen of Bavaria Conure or the Golden Conure as it is sometimes called)
• Cyanoliseus
• Enicognathus
• Leptosittaca
• Ognorhynchus
• Conuropsis
• Rhynchopsitta: Thick-billed parrot
• Myopsitta: Quaker parakeet

Macaws:

• Ara
• Anodorhynchus
• Cyanopsitta
• Diopsittaca
• Orthopsittaca
• Primolius

In addition the caiques and the Hawk-headed Parrot have also been proposed for inclusion. Both the caiques and the Hawk-headed parakeets have a heavier build and different tail structure from traditional conures.