Loriini

{{Short description|Tribe of birds}} {{redirect2|Lorini|Lory|the village in Iran|Lorini, Iran|other uses|Lory (disambiguation)}} {{Redirect|Lorys|the crime in Italy|Murder of Lorys Stival}} {{for|the African bird family|Loerie}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Ornithological miscellany (Plate) (5981479349).jpg | image_caption = Collared lory (''Vini solitaria''), 1876 | taxon = Loriini | authority = Selby, 1836 | subdivision_ranks = Genera | subdivision = ''Oreopsittacus'' ''Charminetta'' ''Hypocharmosyna'' ''Charmosynopsis'' ''Charmosyna'' ''Vini'' ''Neopsittacus'' ''Lorius'' ''Psitteuteles'' ''Chalcopsitta'' ''Glossoptilus'' ''Trichoglossus'' }}

'''Loriini''' is a tribe of small to medium-sized arboreal parrots characterized by their specialized brush-tipped tongues for feeding on nectar of various blossoms and soft fruits, preferably berries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=lorikeet |url=https://www.britannica.com/animal/lorikeet |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=Britannica |language=en}}</ref> The species form a monophyletic group within the parrot family Psittaculidae. The group consists of the '''lories''' and '''lorikeets'''. Traditionally, they were considered a separate subfamily ('''Loriinae''') from the other subfamily (Psittacinae) based on the specialized characteristics, but recent molecular and morphological studies show that the group is positioned in the middle of various other groups. They are widely distributed throughout the Australasian region, including south-eastern Asia, Polynesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and Australia, and the majority have very brightly coloured plumage.

==Etymology== The word "lory" comes from the Malay ''lūri'', a name used for a number of species of colourful parrots.<ref>{{cite book | last=Jobling | first=James A. | year=2010 | title=The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names | publisher=Christopher Helm | place=London, UK | isbn=978-1-4081-2501-4 | page=231 | url=https://archive.org/stream/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling#page/n231/mode/1up |via=Internet Archive (archive.org)}}</ref> The name was used by the Dutch writer Johan Nieuhof in 1682 in a book describing his travels in the East Indies.<ref> {{cite book | last=Nieuhof | first=Johan | author-link=Johan Nieuhof | year=1662 | title=Zee en lant-reize, door verscheide gewesten van Oostindien | language=Dutch |trans-title=A Journey by Sea and Land through Various Regions of the East Indies | location=Amsterdam, NL | publisher=Jacob van Meurs | page=287 |quote=''Behelzende veele zeltzaame en wonderlijke voorvallen en geschiedenissen. Beneffens een beschrijving van lantschappen, steden, dieren, gewassen, draghten, zeden en godsdienst der inwoonders en inzonderheit een wijtloopig verhael der stad Batavia.'' Containing many rare and wonderful incidents and histories. Besides a description of the landscapes, cities, animals, crops, customs, manners, and religion of the inhabitants, and in particular a partial story of the city of Batavia. | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SEZnAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA287 }} </ref> The spelling "laurey" was used by English naturalist Eleazar Albin in 1731 for a species of parrot from Brazil,<ref> {{ cite book | last1=Albin | first1=Eleazar | author1-link=Eleazar Albin | last2=Derham | first2=William | author2-link=William Derham | year=1731 | title=A Natural History of Birds: Illustrated with a hundred and one copper plates, curiously engraven from the life | volume=1 | page=13, Plate 13 | location=London, UK | publisher=Printed for the author and sold by William Innys | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41130217 }} </ref> and then in 1751 the English naturalist George Edwards used the spelling "lory" when introducing names for five species of parrot from the East Indies in the fourth volume of his ''A Natural History of Uncommon Birds''. Edwards credited Nieuhof for the name.<ref> {{ cite book | last=Edwards | first=George | author-link=George Edwards (naturalist) | year=1751 | title=A Natural History of Uncommon Birds | volume=Part 4 | pages=170–174 | place=London, UK | publisher=Printed for the author at the College of Physicians | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/50196404 }} </ref>

The choice of the terms "lory" and "lorikeet" is subjective, like the use of "parrot" and "parakeet". Species with longer tapering tails are generally referred to as "lorikeets", while species with short blunt tails are generally referred to as "lories".<ref> {{cite book | last = Low | first = Rosemary | year = 1998 | title = Hancock House Encyclopedia of the Lories | publisher = Hancock House | pages = 85–87 | isbn = 0-88839-413-6 }} </ref>

==Taxonomy== Traditionally, lories and lorikeets have either been classified as the subfamily, '''Loriinae''', or as a family on their own, '''Loriidae''',<ref name=forshaw>{{cite book | first= Joseph M.| last= Forshaw|author2=Cooper, William T. |year= 1981|orig-year=1973, 1978|edition=corrected second| title= Parrots of the World|publisher=David & Charles, Newton Abbot, London|isbn=0-7153-7698-5}}</ref> but they are currently classified as a tribe. Neither traditional view is confirmed by molecular studies. Those studies show that the lories and lorikeets form a single group, closely related to the budgerigar and the fig parrots (''Cyclopsitta'' and ''Psittaculirostris'').<ref name="Wright">{{Cite journal | last1=Wright | first1=T.F. | last2=Schirtzinger | first2=E.E. | last3=Matsumoto | first3=T. | last4=Eberhard | first4=J.R. | last5=Graves | first5=G.R. | last6=Sanchez | first6=J.J. | last7=Capelli | first7=S. | last8=Müller | first8=H. | last9=Scharpegge | first9=J. | last10=Chambers | first10=G.K. | last11=Fleischer | first11=R.C. | date=2008 | title=A multilocus molecular phylogeny of the parrots (Psittaciformes): Support for a Gondwanan origin during the Cretaceous | journal=Molecular Biology and Evolution | volume=25 | issue=10 | pages=2141–2156 | pmc=2727385| doi=10.1093/molbev/msn160 | doi-access=free | pmid=18653733 }}</ref><ref name="astuti2006">{{cite journal|last=Astuti|first=Dwi|author2=Azuma, Noriko |author3=Suzuki, Hitoshi |author4= Higashi, Seigo |year=2006|title=Phylogenetic relationships within parrots (Psittacidae) inferred from mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene sequences.|journal=Zoological Science|volume=23|pages=191–98|doi=10.2108/zsj.23.191|pmid=16603811|issue=2|hdl=2115/54809|s2cid=35879495|hdl-access=free}}</ref><ref name=deKloet>{{cite journal|last=de Kloet|first=RS|author2=de Kloet SR |year=2005|title=The evolution of the spindlin gene in birds: Sequence analysis of an intron of the spindlin W and Z gene reveals four major divisions of the Psittaciformes|journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution|volume=36|pages=706–721|doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2005.03.013|pmid=16099384|issue=3}}</ref><ref name=tokita>{{cite journal|doi=10.1111/j.1525-142X.2007.00199.x|last=Tokita |first=M |author2=Kiyoshi T |author3=Armstrong KN |year=2007|title=Evolution of craniofacial novelty in parrots through developmental modularity and heterochrony|journal=Evolution & Development|volume=9|issue=6|pages=590–601| url=http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118546207/abstract| archive-url=https://archive.today/20121005175548/http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118546207/abstract| url-status=dead| archive-date=2012-10-05|pmid=17976055|s2cid=46659963 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name="Christidis1991">{{cite journal|last1=Christidis, L.|first1=L. | first2 = R. | last2 = Schodde | author2-link = Richard Schodde | first3 = D. D. | last3 = Shaw | first4 = S. F. | last4 = Maynes |year=1991|title=Relationships among the Australo-Papuan parrots, lorikeets, and cockatoos (Aves, Psittaciformes) - protein evidence|journal=Condor |volume=93 |issue=2 |pages=302–17 |doi=10.2307/1368946|jstor=1368946 }}</ref>

A comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study of the Loriini published in 2020 led to major changes in the generic boundaries. The reorganisation involved the resurrection of four genera: ''Charminetta'', ''Hypocharmosyna'', ''Charmosynopsis'' and ''Glossoptilus'', as well as the erection of three entirely new genera: ''Synorhacma'', ''Charmosynoides'' and ''Saudareos''. One genus disappeared, as the collared lory, which had previously been placed in the monotypic genus ''Phigys'', was found to be embedded in the genus ''Vini''. The extinct New Caledonian lorikeet, although not sampled, was assumed to be a member of the genus ''Vini'' on plumage and biogeographic grounds. The tribe Loriini now contains 61 species divided into 12 genera.<ref name=smith>{{Cite journal | last1=Smith | first1=B.T. | last2=Mauck | first2=W.M.I. | last3=Benz | first3=B.W. | last4=Andersen | first4=M.J. | date=2020 | title=Uneven missing data skew phylogenomic relationships within the lories and lorikeets | journal=Genome Biology and Evolution | volume=12 | issue=7 | pages=1131–1147 | doi=10.1093/gbe/evaa113| pmc=7486955 | doi-access=free | pmid=32470111 }}</ref><ref name=joseph>{{Cite journal | last1=Joseph | first1=L. | last2=Merwin | first2=J. | last3=Smith | first3=B.T. | date=2020 | title=Improved systematics of lorikeets reflects their evolutionary history and frames conservation priorities | journal=Emu - Austral Ornithology | volume=120 | issue=3 | pages=201–215 | doi=10.1080/01584197.2020.1779596}}</ref><ref name=avilist>{{ cite web | author=AviList Core Team | date=2025 | title=AviList: The Global Avian Checklist, v2025 | doi=10.2173/avilist.v2025 | doi-access=free | url=http://www.avilist.org/checklist/v2025/ | access-date=21 November 2025 }} See also: [https://www.avilist.org/checklist/errata/ Errata].</ref>

{{Cladogram |caption=Phylogeny of the Loriini based on a genetic study published in 2020.<ref name=smith/><ref name=joseph/><ref name=avilist/> |align=centre |cladogram={{Clade| style=font-size:100%;line-height:80%;width:400px; |label1=Loriini |1={{clade |1=''Oreopsittacus'' – Plum-faced lorikeet |2={{clade |1={{clade |1=''Charminetta'' – Pygmy lorikeet |2={{clade |1=''Hypocharmosyna'' – 2 species |2={{clade |1=''Charmosynopsis'' – 2 species |2={{clade |1=''Charmosyna'' – 4 species |2=''Vini'' – 12 species }} }} }} }} |2={{clade |1=''Neopsittacus'' – 2 species |2={{clade |1=''Lorius'' – 6 species |2={{clade |1=''Psitteuteles'' – 3 species |2={{clade |1=''Chalcopsitta'' – 5 species |2={{clade |1=''Glossoptilus'' – Goldie's lorikeet |2=''Trichoglossus'' – 22 species }} }} }} }} }} }} }} }} }}

===Genera=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Image !! Genus !! Living species |- | 175px ||''Oreopsittacus'' {{small|Salvadori, 1877}}|| * Plum-faced lorikeet, ''Oreopsittacus arfaki'' |- | 175px ||''Charminetta'' {{small|Iredale, 1956}}|| * Pygmy lorikeet, ''Charminetta wilhelminae'' |- | 175px ||''Hypocharmosyna'' {{small|Salvadori, 1891}}|| * Red-fronted lorikeet, ''Hypocharmosyna rubronotata'' * Red-flanked lorikeet, ''Hypocharmosyna placentis'' |- | 175px ||''Charmosynopsis'' {{small|Salvadori, 1877}}|| * Blue-fronted lorikeet, ''Charmosynopsis toxopei'' * Fairy lorikeet, ''Charmosynopsis pulchella'' |- | 175px ||''Charmosyna'' {{small|Wagler, 1832}}|| * Striated lorikeet, ''Charmosyna multistriata'' * Josephine's lorikeet, ''Charmosyna josefinae'' * West Papuan lorikeet, ''Charmosyna papou'' * Stella's lorikeet, ''Charmosyna stellae'' |- | 175px ||''Vini'' {{small|Lesson, R, 1833}}|| * Duchess lorikeet, ''Vini margarethae'' * Meek's lorikeet, ''Vini meeki'' * New Caledonian lorikeet, ''Vini diadema'' (possibly extinct) * Red-chinned lorikeet, ''Vini rubrigularis'' * Palm lorikeet, ''Vini palmarum'' * Red-throated lorikeet, ''Vini amabilis'' * Collared lory, ''Vini solitaria'' * Blue-crowned lorikeet, ''Vini australis'' * Ultramarine lorikeet, ''Vini ultramarina'' * Stephen's lorikeet, ''Vini stepheni'' * Kuhl's lorikeet, ''Vini kuhlii'' * Blue lorikeet, ''Vini peruviana'' |- | 175px ||''Neopsittacus'' {{small|Salvadori, 1875}}|| * Yellow-billed lorikeet, ''Neopsittacus musschenbroekii'' * Orange-billed lorikeet, ''Neopsittacus pullicauda'' |- | 175px ||''Lorius'' {{small|Vigors, 1825}}|| * White-naped lory, ''Lorius albidinuchus'' * Yellow-bibbed lory, ''Lorius chlorocercus'' * Purple-naped lory, ''Lorius domicella'' * Chattering lory, ''Lorius garrulus'' * Purple-bellied lory, ''Lorius hypoinochrous'' * Black-capped lory, ''Lorius lory'' |- | 175px ||''Psitteuteles'' {{small|Bonaparte, 1854}}|| * Varied lorikeet, ''Psitteuteles versicolor'' * Purple-crowned lorikeet, ''Psitteuteles porphyrocephalus'' * Little lorikeet, ''Psitteuteles pusillus'' |- | 175px ||''Chalcopsitta'' {{small|Bonaparte, 1850}}|| * Dusky lory, ''Chalcopsitta fuscata'' * Cardinal lory, ''Chalcopsitta cardinalis'' * Brown lory, ''Chalcopsitta duivenbodei'' * Black lory, ''Chalcopsitta atra'' * Yellow-streaked lory, ''Chalcopsitta scintillata'' |- | 175px ||''Glossoptilus'' {{small|Rothschild and Hartert, 1896}}|| * Goldie's lorikeet, ''Glossoptilus goldiei'' |- | 175px ||''Trichoglossus'' {{small|Stephens, 1826}}|| * Musk lorikeet, ''Trichoglossus concinnus'' * Mindanao lorikeet, ''Trichoglossus johnstoniae'' * Iris lorikeet, ''Trichoglossus iris'' * Ornate lorikeet, ''Trichoglossus ornatus'' * Yellow-cheeked lorikeet, ''Trichoglossus meyeri'' * Sula lorikeet, ''Trichoglossus flavoviridis'' * Blue-streaked lory, ''Trichoglossus reticulatus'' * Blue-eared lory, ''Trichoglossus semilarvatus'' * Red lory, ''Trichoglossus borneus'' * Black-winged lory, ''Trichoglossus cyanogenius'' * Red-and-blue lory, ''Trichoglossus histrio'' * Violet-necked lory, ''Trichoglossus squamatus'' * Pohnpei lorikeet, ''Trichoglossus rubiginosus'' * Scaly-breasted lorikeet, ''Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus'' * Coconut lorikeet, ''Trichoglossus haematodus'' * Biak lorikeet, ''Trichoglossus rosenbergii'' * Rainbow lorikeet, ''Trichoglossus moluccanus'' * Red-collared lorikeet, ''Trichoglossus rubritorquis'' * Olive-headed lorikeet, ''Trichoglossus euteles'' * Marigold lorikeet, ''Trichoglossus capistratus'' * Leaf lorikeet, ''Trichoglossus weberi'' * Sunset lorikeet, ''Trichoglossus forsteni'' |}

==Morphology== thumb|left|Tongue of a lory Lories and lorikeets have specialized brush-tipped tongues for feeding on nectar and soft fruits. They can feed from the flowers of about 5,000 species of plants and use their specialized tongues to take the nectar. The tip of their tongues have tufts of papillae (extremely fine hairs), which collect nectar and pollen.

The multi-coloured rainbow lorikeet was one of the species of parrots appearing in the first edition of ''The Parrots of the World'' and also in John Gould's lithographs of the Birds of Australia.

==Diet== In the wild, rainbow lorikeets feed mainly on pollen and nectar, and possess a tongue adapted especially for their particular diet. Many fruit orchard owners consider them a pest, as they often fly in groups and strip trees containing fresh fruit. They are also frequent visitors at bird feeders that supply lorikeet-friendly treats, such as store-bought nectar, sunflower seeds, and fruits such as apples, grapes and pears.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.beautyofbirds.com/rainbowlorikeet.html|title=Rainbow Lorikeet / Rainbow Lory aka Green Naped Lory / Lorikeet|website=www.beautyofbirds.com|language=en|access-date=2017-10-17}}</ref> Occasionally they have been observed feeding on meat.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-23/rainbow-lorikeets-eating-meat-baffles-bird-experts/6337984|title=Meat-eating rainbow lorikeets puzzle bird experts|date=2015-03-23|work=ABC News|access-date=2017-10-17|language=en-AU}}</ref>

==Conservation== [[File:Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) -drinking.jpg|right|thumb|Rainbow lorikeet drinking]] The ultramarine lorikeet is endangered. It is now one of the 50 rarest birds in the world. The blue lorikeet is classified as vulnerable. The introduction of European rats to the small island habitats of these birds is a major cause of their endangerment.<ref>Steadman D, (2006). ''Extinction and Biogeography in Tropical Pacific Birds'', University of Chicago Press. {{ISBN|978-0-226-77142-7}}</ref> Various conservation efforts have been made to relocate some of these birds to locations free of predation and habitat destruction.

==In literature== A Lory appears in Chapter III of Lewis Carroll's ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland''. Alice argues with the Lory about its age.

==Gallery== <gallery> File:BlackWingedLorikeet.jpg|Black-winged lory Black lory (Chalcopsitta atra), Gembira Loka Zoo, Yogyakarta 2015-03-15 03.jpg|Black lories File:RainbowLorikeetOregonZoo.jpg|Green-naped lorikeet (subspecies of rainbow lorikeet) File:Scalybreastedlorikeet.jpg|Scaly-breasted lorikeet File:Trichoglossus euteles -Indianapolis Zoo -6.jpg|Olive-headed lorikeet File:Chalcopsitta sintillata -Fuengirola Zoo-8-1c.jpg|Yellow-streaked lory File:Musk Lorikeet 2.jpg|Musk lorikeet File:Dusky lory (Pseudeos fuscata), Gembira Loka Zoo, Yogyakarta, 2015-03-15 03.jpg|Dusky lory File:BlueStreakedLory.jpg|Blue-streaked lory File:Charmosyna josefinae.jpg|Josephine's lorikeet File:Stellas Lory 2.jpg|Papuan lorikeet File:Aus Rainbow Lorikeet cropped.jpg|Australian rainbow lorikeet (subspecies of rainbow lorikeet) File:Blackcappedlorikeet.jpg|Black-capped lory at the Cincinnati Zoo File:Lorius_garrulus-20070107.jpg|Chattering lory at Jurong Bird Park </gallery>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Loriinae}} *ARKive – [https://web.archive.org/web/20080226152245/http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/birds/Vini_peruviana/ images and movies of the blue lorikeet/tahitian lory ''(Vini peruviana)'']

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lories And Lorikeets}} * Category:Taxa named by Prideaux John Selby