Trisyntopa sp. nov. 'Paradise Parrot'
Taxonomy & Nomenclature
Conservation Status
Hypothetical
"the likely loss of a symbiotic species of moth of the genus Trisyntopa that hypothetically inhabited the termite nests of the Paradise parrot (Edwards et al., 2007; Olsen, 2007). There are two other members of the genus Psephotellus that nest in termite mounds, the Hooded parrot (Psephotellus dissimilis) and the Golden-shouldered parrot (Psephotellus chrysoptergius), both of which co-habitate with a unique species of Trisyntopa moth. Rendering it likely that the Paradise parrot was likewise associated with a unique moth that benefitted from the parrot excavating cavities for its nesting and by using the parrots’ faeces as food for the offspring.
Visiting known and potential former termite nests of the Paradise parrot may uncover remains of this moth whose former existence is implied by analogy."
(Holmes, 2021)
Distribution
Queensland, Australia
Anatomy & Morphology
Biology & Ecology
Hypodigm
Media
References
Edwards, Edward D., Cooney, Stuart J. N., Olsen, Penny D. and Garnett, Stephen T. (2007). A new species of Trisyntopa Lower (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) associated with the nests of the hooded parrot (Psephotus dissimilis, Psittacidae) in the Northern Territory. Australian Journal of Entomology 46(4): 276-280. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-6055.2007.00607.x
Holmes, Branden. (2021). What's Lost and What Remains: The Sixth Extinction in 100 Accounts (eBook). Self published.
Olsen, Penny. (2007). Glimpses of Paradise: The Quest for the Beautiful Parrakeet. Canberra, ACT: National Library of Australia.