coast amaranth vs Spectacled Parrotlet

Amaranthus pumilus compared with Forpus conspicillatus

Key Differences

  • coast amaranth is Extinct while Spectacled Parrotlet is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank coast amaranth Spectacled Parrotlet
Kingdom Plantae (Plants) Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants) Chordata (Chordates)
Class Magnoliopsida (Dicots) Aves (Birds)
Order Caryophyllales (Caryophyllales) Psittaciformes (Parrots)
Family Amaranthaceae Psittacidae (True Parrots)
Genus Amaranthus Forpus
Species Amaranthus pumilus Forpus conspicillatus

Conservation Status

coast amaranth

EX — Extinct

Spectacled Parrotlet

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute coast amaranth Spectacled Parrotlet
Diet
Average Lifespan
Average Length
Average Weight

Habitat & Geographic Range

coast amaranth

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Found in Japan.

Spectacled Parrotlet

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Norway, and Venezuela.

coast amaranth

Coast amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) is an annual herb in the family Amaranthaceae, native to the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the eastern United States, where it once grew on coastal foredunes, beach strand, and shell-hash substrates above the high tide line from New York south to South Carolina. It is a low-growing, fleshy plant with small, rounded leaves and inconspicuous green flowers typical of the genus. Coast amaranth is assessed as Extinct in the Wild by the IUCN, as it has not been reliably documented from wild populations since the mid-20th century; the last confirmed collections date to the 1960s. The species' decline and likely extinction resulted from intense human pressure on Atlantic coastal habitats through shoreline development, beach stabilisation, vehicular traffic on beaches, and increased storm frequency disrupting pioneer dune vegetation. It is federally listed as Threatened in the United States, though this listing predates confirmed extinction in the wild. A small number of ex-situ accessions may exist in botanical garden collections. Genetic material and seed banking efforts represent the only remaining conservation options for this critically reduced species.

Spectacled Parrotlet

One of the world's smallest parrots, spectacled parrotlets reach just 12 cm in length and inhabit humid forests and woodland edges of Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela. Named for the striking blue eye-ring in males, these pocket-sized green parrots form flocks that move noisily through forest canopy foraging for seeds, berries, and fruit. Like many small neotropical parrots, they face pressure from habitat deforestation. They are popular in aviculture for their compact size and curious personalities.

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