The phylogenetic affinities of the parrot taxaAgapornis, LoriculusandMelopsittacus(Aves: Psittaciformes): hypotarsal morphology supports the results of molecular analyses

The interrelationships between the currently recognised subtaxa of parrots (Psittaciformes) are poorly understood and even monophyly of some is not well established. A recent phylogenetic analysis of nuclear gene sequences strongly supports a previously unrecognised clade including Agapornis (lovebirds), Melopsittacus (Budgerigar), Cyclopsittini (fig-parrots) and Loriini (lories). In the present study it is shown that these taxa also share a unique derived morphology of the hypotarsus, which further occurs in Loriculus (hanging-parrots) and Micropsitta (pygmy-parrots). It is hypothesised that Agapornis, Loriculus, Micropsitta, Cyclopsittini, Melopsittacus and Loriini form a clade for which the name Loricoloriinae is proposed. The presence of an ossified arcus parahyalis on the hyoid bone further suggests a clade including Cyclopsittini, Melopsittacus and Loriini, which also gained support from analysis of molecular data.