Mascarene grey parakeet

The Mascarene grey parakeet, scientifically known as Psittacula bensoni, was a species of parrot that once inhabited the Mascarene Islands of Mauritius and Réunion in the western Indian Ocean. It is now recognized as an extinct species, disappearing from the wild by the mid-18th century. Its classification places it within the tribe Psittaculini, a group of parrots found on these islands.

Taxonomy and Discovery

Subfossil bones discovered on Mauritius in the early 20th century by Louis Etienne Thirioux were initially described in 1973 by Daniel T. Holyoak. These remains were thought to be from a smaller relative of the broad-billed parrot and were provisionally placed in the genus Lophopsittacus, named Lophopsittacus bensoni in honor of ornithologist Constantine W. Benson. Later research, particularly by Julian P. Hume, reclassified the species into the genus Psittacula, due to its morphological similarities to species like the Alexandrine parakeet and its distinctiveness from Lophopsittacus. The population on Réunion, though not confirmed by subfossil finds there, is believed to have been conspecific with the Mauritian population.

Description and Characteristics

Contemporary accounts and subfossil evidence describe the Mascarene grey parakeet as a grey-plumaged bird with a long tail, distinguishing it from the typically green members of the Psittacula genus. Its beak was noted to be relatively large and broad compared to sympatric species like the echo parakeet. While precise measurements are derived from fragmented remains, subfossil analysis indicates it was smaller than the broad-billed parrot and Rodrigues parrot but similar in size to the Mascarene parrot.

Behavior, Ecology, and Extinction

The Mascarene grey parakeet was known for its tame nature and was easily hunted. Historical accounts, such as that from a 1602 voyage, detail how capturing one individual would cause its flock to gather, making them vulnerable to capture by hand or with simple tools. They were also considered crop pests, damaging cereals and fruits, which likely contributed to their persecution. The species inhabited forest environments and may have fed on fruits from palms and wild seeds. Deforestation, driven by human settlement and agricultural practices, severely impacted their habitat. By the 1730s, the species had vanished from Réunion, and by the 1760s, it was no longer found on Mauritius, succumbing to a combination of hunting pressure and habitat destruction.