Tiels, Keets, and Taxonomy

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29 Feb 2008, 6:19 pm

Cockatiels and budgerigars. Taxonomically their trees only meet at the Order level, but they are very similar creatures.

Similarities

Beak shape
Zygodactyl talons
Cranium
Feather arrangement
Hearing range around 225 Hz +/-25 to 8250 Hz +/-250
Basic body shape
Chemical composition of poop for same food

Differences

volume
mass
motile crest
lifespan
coloration

I think cockatiels and budgerigars should be listed as part of the same Genus or at least Family.

iamnotaparakeet
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29 Feb 2008, 6:35 pm

Does anyone have any input on this?

Phagocyte
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29 Feb 2008, 6:38 pm

I really don't know much about cockatiels and budgerigars, so I don't have much input. Do you have a good link describing their evolution and anatomy for me to read? I would be more than happy to put my freshman taxonomy to use. :wink:

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iamnotaparakeet
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29 Feb 2008, 6:39 pm

How about this question: Is the current system of taxonomy (K, P, C, O, F, G, S.) a natural or artificial system of classifying creatures?

iamnotaparakeet
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29 Feb 2008, 6:40 pm

Phagocyte wrote:

I'll see if I can find my paper on the computer. I had references there.

Phagocyte
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29 Feb 2008, 6:40 pm

Well, it's artificial in the sense that it is an arbitrary means of classification, but it's based on natural evolution and morphology.

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Phagocyte
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29 Feb 2008, 6:40 pm

iamnotaparakeet wrote:

Phagocyte wrote:

I'll see if I can find my paper on the computer. I had references there.

Cool, thanks.

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richardbenson
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29 Feb 2008, 6:47 pm

i love that you love your birds so much
but i dont love you :wink:

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29 Feb 2008, 6:57 pm

I can't see why it is so important. They are both classified as parrots; isn't that good enough?

iamnotaparakeet
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29 Feb 2008, 6:57 pm

Can't find my article. I'll have to research it again... :evil: I'll get back to you.

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01 Mar 2008, 12:09 am

Hearing ranges listed here.

Wikipedia pages on
Cockatiels and Budgerigars don't give much info, but at least some. The one on cockatiels says their now classified as being a type of cockatoo but they're also similar to parakeets. It says,

Quote:

The Cockatiel 'Parakeet' (on account of "keet" meaning a small parrot) nicknamed Cockatiel is now biologically classified as a genuine member of Cacatuidae on account of sharing all of the Cockatoo family's biological features. Namely ; the erectile crest, a gallbladder, powder down, suppressed cloudy-layer (enabling Lories, Lorikeets (long-tailed Lories), Parakeets & typical Parrot species display of structural colours such as aquas, blues, greens, purples & turquoises), and facial feathers covering the sides of the beak, all of which are rarely found outside the Cacatuidae family.

In contrast to most Cockatoos, the Cockatiel has long tail feathers roughly making up half of its total length. At 300 mm to 330 mm (12 to 13 ins), the Cockatiel is the smallest & only Parakeet (meaning small and long-tailed) type of Cockatoo species. The latter ranging between 300 mm to 600 mm (12-24 in) in length.

Mitochondrial 12S rRNA sequence data[4] places it amongst the Calyptorhynchinae (dark cockatoos) subfamily. The unique, Parakeet morphological feature is a consequence of the decrease in size and accompanying change of ecological niche.

Sequence analysis of intron 7 of the nuclear ?-fibrinogen gene, on the other hand, indicates that it may yet be distinct enough as to warrant recognition of the Nymphicinae rather than inclusion of the genus in the Calyptorhynchinae.[5]

Here's a thought in the matter: what if cockatiels and budgies shared an ancestor of greater size, in between macaw and budgie, having motile crest, and more coloration and diversified from there? Could not the "decrease in size and accompanying change of ecological niche" have caused the "unique, Parakeet morphological feature[s]" just as much for the budgerigar as it did for the cockatiel?

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01 Mar 2008, 12:12 am

Aridarr wrote:

I can't see why it is so important. They are both classified as parrots; isn't that good enough?

Parrots as a general kind yes, but I've had experience and lived with these birds; they are my favorites, so I am interested in them and their history in particular.

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01 Mar 2008, 12:14 am

richardbenson wrote:

i love that you love your birds so much
but i dont love you :wink:

What's with the wink, that's creeping me out man!?

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