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''Psittacus'' is a genus of African parrots in the subfamily ''Psittacinae''. It contains the two species: the Congo African grey parrot (''Psittacus erithacus'') and the Timneh African grey parrot (''Psittacus timneh''). For many years, the Congo African grey parrot and Timneh African grey parrot were classified as subspecies; the former as the nominate the latter as ''P. e. timneh''. However, in 2012 the taxa were recognized as separate species by BirdLife International on the basis of genetic, morphological, plumage and vocal differences.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.birdlife.org/globally-threatened-bird-forums/2011/06/grey-parrot-psittacus-erithacus-has-been-split-into-grey-parrot-p-erithacus-and-timneh-grey-parrot-p-timneh-are-both-eligible-for-uplisting/ )〕〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb/casestudy/568 )〕 These parrots are found in the primary and secondary rainforest of West and Central Africa. They are one of the most intelligent birds in the world. They feed primarily on palm nuts, seeds, fruits, and leafy matter, but have also been observed eating snails. Their inclination and ability to mimic speech and other sounds have made them popular pets. ==Taxonomy and systematics== Two species are accepted:〔 * African grey parrot, grey parrot or Congo African grey parrot (''Psittacus erithacus'', previously ''Psittacus erithacus erithacus ''): This is the nominate species, larger than the Timneh at about long, with light-grey feathers, cherry-red tails, and an all-black beak.〔Forshaw & Cooper (1978).〕 Immature birds of this species have tails with a darker, duller red towards the tip (Juniper and Parr 1999) until their first moult, which occurs by 18 months of age. These birds also initially have grey irises, which change to a pale yellow colour by the time the bird is a year old. The Congo grey parrot is found on the islands of Príncipe and Bioko, and is distributed from southeastern Ivory Coast to western Kenya, northwest Tanzania, southern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and northern Angola. In aviculture, it is often called a "CAG". * Timneh parrot or Timneh African grey parrot (''Psittacus timneh'', previously ''Psittacus erithacus timneh''): The Timneh African grey parrot is slightly smaller in size than the Congo, but intelligence and talking ability remain comparable. They can range from about 22–28 cm in total length, and are considered a medium size parrot. The Timneh has a darker charcoal grey colouring, a darker maroon tail, and a light, horn-coloured area to part of the upper mandible. Timneh parrots are endemic to the western parts of the moist Upper Guinea forests and bordering savannas of West Africa from Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, and southern Mali east to at least east of the Bandama River in Ivory Coast. It is often called a "TAG". As pets, Timnehs usually begin learning to speak earlier than Congos as they mature slightly earlier. The Timneh parrot also has a reputation of being less nervous around strangers and novel situations than the Congo, but whether this is true or not is still debated. In 2012, BirdLife International gave the Timneh parrot full species status〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.birdlife.org/globally-threatened-bird-forums/2011/06/grey-parrot-psittacus-erithacus-has-been-split-into-grey-parrot-p-erithacus-and-timneh-grey-parrot-p-timneh-are-both-eligible-for-uplisting/ )〕 and it was classified as vulnerable.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.birdlife.org/action/science/species/global_species_programme/whats_new.html )〕 Some aviculturalists recognize third and fourth species, but these are not distinguishable in scientific studies. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Psittacus」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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