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Broad-billed parrot - Lophopsittacus mauritianus (extinct approx. 1674)
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This is a watercolour of the Mauritius Broad-billed parrot (Lophopsittacus mauritianus). It lived on the island until at least 1674 and probably died out as a result of hunting, deforestation and nest predation by introduced mammals like monkeys and rats. The painting is based on several references, one is of the sculptures made in 2004 to raise funds for Mauritian wildlife. Another reference is the Journal of the Gelderland, a trading vessel of the Dutch East India company. The journal has original drawings in it of the Dodo, other extinct birds and also of the Broad-billed parrot. The drawing shows that one bird was larger than the other. Sexual dimorphism is a characteristic in parrots and the Broad-billed parrot was the same: the male was much larger than the female. Fossils support this theory because the found material clearly falls into two size classes. Another source is the accounts of early travellers. This parrot was called “Indian raven”: its raucous call and appearance must have reminded them of a raven which makes it likely that its colour was dark-grey or black. Its genus is not known. The crest suggests it was a cockatoo but there are no definite results of dna tests published yet. |
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