Quercypsitta

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iQuercypsitta
Fossil range: Late Eocene

Extinct (fossil)

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Psittaciformes
Family:	Quercypsittidae Mourer-Chauviré, 1992
Genus:	Quercypsitta Mourer-Chauviré, 1992

Species

Quercypsitta sudrei type
Quercypsitta ivani

Quercypsitta^[1] is a genus of prehistoric bird from the Late Eocene (c.37-34 mya) phosphorite deposits of Quercy, France.

Known from rather fragmentary remains (some foot and wing bones for the type species Q. sudrei, three coracoids for the species Q. ivani), it was described as a parrot sufficiently distinct to be included in its own family, the Quercypsittidae. These birds apparently formed an early offshoot of the parrots which spread to Europe and became extinct in the Miocene at latest due to global cooling, as their relatives, the ancestors of the African and Asian parrots known today, had in the meantime settled the warmer areas south of the Quercypsittidae's distribution.

The genus Palaeopsittacus is sometimes included in the Quercypsittidae, but it is not certain that this bird was indeed a parrot.

[edit] References

Mourer-Chauviré, Cécile (1992): Une nouvelle famille de Perroquets (Aves, Psittaciformes) dans l'Eocène supérieur des Phosphorites du Quercy. Geobios, Mémoire Spécial 14: 169-177.