![]() Cockatoos are distinguished by their prominent feather crests, which they can raise and lower at whim.They have zygodactyl feet, which have two toes pointing forward and two toes facing backward, making it easier for them to grab food and objects. Cockatoos have powerful, curved beaks for splitting open seeds and nuts. They are famed for their acrobatic ability and can execute aerial flips and rolls. Some cockatoo species are notable for their powerful screeches and cries that may be heard from long distances.Ĭockatoos are omnivores that eat seeds, fruits, berries, nuts, and insects in the wild. They may survive in captivity for more than 50 years and are one of the longest-living parrot species. They are sociable birds that create close ties with their owners and flock members. Cockatoos are available in a range of hues, including white, black, pink, and yellow. They are distinguished by their unusual feather crests, which they can raise and lower at whim, as well as their intelligence and ability to learn tricks and mimic words and phrases. Cockatoos are classified into 21 species, each with its own set of traits and patterns. This comprehensive genetic assessment of one of Australia’s most charismatic but relatively understudied parrots, the pink cockatoo, has increased our understanding on its evolution, and provided a basis for effective conservation management for this species.Cockatoos are a kind of parrot endemic to Australia and its neighboring islands. These markers can be used to perform ‘provenance testing’, to identify from where birds have been poached, and ‘parentage testing’ to determine whether a bird has been legally captive bred (and not poached from the wild). In addition, we identified a panel of genetic markers suitable for wildlife forensic applications for the pink cockatoo, an important tool to investigate trafficking crimes involving this species. Management of genetic diversity is crucial to minimise inbreeding and to ensure the species has the genetic capacity to evolve to changing environments in the future. Importantly, we found parts of the pink cockatoo range which had lower genetic diversity. However, we found that the genetic differences between the two pink cockatoo subspecies were relatively minor. When gene flow is obstructed, genetic differences accumulate in the isolated groups, which can lead to the formation of different subspecies, and even species. The Eyrean Barrier has likely limited the movement of birds between the two areas, leading to reduced gene flow. This is seen in genetic differences between birds to the east and to the west/north of the ‘Eyrean Barrier’ region, which comprises the Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre Basin. These genetic data support the presence of two pink cockatoo subspecies, as predicted from their morphology. We were able to generate genetic data from over 50 pink cockatoo specimens held in museum collections throughout Australia, including many from the Australian Museum and the Australian National Wildlife Collection, CSIRO, Canberra. To better understand the evolution of the pink cockatoo and help improve its conservation, we undertook a genetic study of the species across its entire range. The beauty and intelligence of this bird makes it sought after as a pet around the world. ![]() The species is also poached from the wild for the illegal wildlife trade. Additionally, the pink cockatoo is under threat in some parts of its range, largely due to the removal of hollow-bearing trees, upon which this species relies for nesting. There has been no genetic research to clarify the two currently recognised subspecies or to determine whether they are evolutionarily distinct. ![]() However, in the past, up to four different subspecies have been recognised. These two groups have been recognised as subspecies for over two decades. These two groups differ in their appearance – birds from the eastern group are slightly larger and have a more prominent yellow band in their crest. ‘subspecies’): one in the central/western part of its range ( L. The pink cockatoo is divided into two groups (i.e. Like some other parrot species, they are very long-lived – a captive pink cockatoo from Brookfield Zoo, USA, recently passed away at the age of 82! They eat seeds from a variety of plants, including some exotic agricultural and noxious species, and supplement their diet with insects. ![]() Pink cockatoos are found in low densities across the arid and semi-arid inland of Australia, surviving in some of Australia’s harshest habitats. ![]()
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