Martinique amazon
The Martinique amazon (Amazona martinicana) is a hypothetical extinct species of parrot from the family Psittacidae, believed to have inhabited the island of Martinique. It is described as similar to the red-necked amazon, with distinctive slate-colored heads and some red markings. Its extinction is attributed to habitat loss due to agricultural clearing.
Key Facts
- ›Considered a hypothetical extinct species of parrot.
- ›Believed to have inhabited the island of Martinique.
- ›Described as having green plumage with a slate-colored head and some red markings.
- ›Likely related to or descended from the red-necked amazon (Amazona arausiaca).
- ›Extinction is attributed to habitat loss from agricultural development.
- ›Not recorded since 1722.
Caribbean, Martinique
Forests
Slate-colored head, Red markings on head, wings, throat, and tail
About Martinique amazon
Martinique Amazon (Amazona martinicana)
The Martinique amazon, scientifically known as Amazona martinicana, is a hypothetical extinct species of parrot that was believed to inhabit the island of Martinique in the Caribbean. This species is not known from any physical remains but is described in historical accounts, notably by Jean-Baptiste Labat in 1742. It was said to share similarities with the red-necked amazon (A. arausiaca) found on Dominica, the island immediately to the north.
Description and Habitat
According to descriptions, the Martinique amazon possessed primarily green plumage, much like its relative the red-necked amazon. Distinctive features included a slate-colored crown on its head, often accompanied by a small amount of red coloration. Red feathers were also noted on the wings, under the throat, and in the tail. While specific habitat details are scarce, its presumed natural environment would have been the forests of Martinique, which were extensively cleared for agriculture.
Extinction and Relationship to Other Species
The Martinique amazon is believed to have become extinct due to this widespread habitat loss. The last recorded observation of the species was around 1722. There is speculation that the population on Martinique was related to, or even descended from, the red-necked amazon of Dominica, suggesting potential inter-island trade or a shared lineage among Caribbean parrots. The existence and classification of A. martinicana are considered speculative by some, with potential overlap in descriptions with other similar, poorly documented species like the Guadeloupe amazon (A. violacea).
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Martinique amazon?
The Martinique amazon (Amazona martinicana) is a hypothetical extinct species of parrot. It is believed to have inhabited the island of Martinique in the Caribbean.
What did the Martinique amazon look like?
Descriptions suggest it had green plumage similar to the red-necked amazon, but with the top of the head being slate-colored and featuring a small amount of red. It also had some red feathers on the wings, under the throat, and in the tail.
Why did the Martinique amazon go extinct?
The species is thought to have become extinct due to habitat loss. Martinique was cleared for agriculture, which would have destroyed the parrot's natural environment.
When was the Martinique amazon last seen?
The Martinique amazon has not been recorded since 1722. Its existence is based on historical descriptions rather than material remains.
Is the Martinique amazon related to other parrots?
It is believed to have been related to or descended from the red-necked amazon (Amazona arausiaca), which is found on Dominica, the island north of Martinique. There is also speculation about its relationship to the Guadeloupe amazon (Amazona violacea).
Related Parrot species
Guadeloupe amazon
The Guadeloupe amazon (Amazona violacea) is a hypothetical extinct species of parrot believed to have been native to Guadeloupe in the Lesser Antilles. Described by 17th and 18th-century writers, it was characterized by violet or slate-colored head and underparts, greenish back, and wings with green, yellow, and red. Its extinction is attributed to hunting by French settlers and habitat destruction.
Cuban macaw
The Cuban macaw (Ara tricolor) was a species of macaw native to Cuba and Isla de la Juventud, becoming extinct in the late 19th century. It was one of the smallest macaws, characterized by a vibrant plumage of red, orange, yellow, green, brown, and blue. Its demise was attributed to hunting, habitat destruction, and possibly hurricanes, despite limited knowledge of its behavior.
Newton's parakeet
Newton's parakeet, also known as the Rodrigues parakeet, was an extinct species of parrot endemic to the island of Rodrigues in the western Indian Ocean. Distinctive for its unusual greyish or slate blue plumage, a rarity in its predominantly green genus, it was also noted for its tame nature and ability to mimic speech. Its lineage is believed to be closely related to the rose-ringed parakeet, and it may have been ancestral to other Mascarene island parakeets.