Imperial Amazon
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| Imperial Amazon | |
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| At the Parrot Conservation and Research Centre Botanical Gardens, Roseau, Dominica | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Psittaciformes |
| Family: | Psittacidae |
| Subfamily: | Psittacinae |
| Genus: | Amazona |
| Species: | A. imperialis |
| Binomial name | |
| Amazona imperialis Richmond, 1899 |
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The Imperial Amazon, Amazona imperialis, also known as the Imperial Parrot, Dominican Amazon, August Amazon, or Sisserou, is a green-and-purple-plumaged amazon parrot. The largest member in the genus Amazona measuring 48 cm in length when fully grown. The Imperial Parrot has a green back, purple neck, green-tipped red tail and purple underparts. The sexes are similar.
The Imperial Amazon is endemic to mountain forests of the Caribbean island nation of Dominica in the Lesser Antilles,[1] where it is the national bird and is featured on the Dominican flag.[2] Its diet consists mainly of fruits and seeds. It nests in hollow trees.
[edit] Status
The Imperial Amazon has an Endangered status on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, because the small population including less than 250 mature individuals is threatened by ongoing habitat loss, illegal trapping for the cage-bird trade, and occasional hurricane-related damage. It is listed on Appendix I of CITES making trade in wild-caught birds illegal and it is also protected by local laws.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b BirdLife International (2008). Amazona imperialis. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 19 November 2009.
- ^ "Dominica's National Flag". Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica. http://www.dominica.gov.dm/cms/index.php?q=node/83. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
[edit] External links
- ARKive - images and movies of the Imperial Parrot (Amazona imperialis)
- BirdLife Species Factsheet
- IUCN Red List
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