Ancient Parrot DNA Points to Pre-Inca Animal Trade

Mar 10, 2026 - 18:30
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Ancient Parrot DNA Points to Pre-Inca Animal Trade
A pair of scarlet macaws (Ara macao) in Costa Rica. Image credit: Julio-César Chávez / CC BY 4.0.

Ancient DNA from brightly colored feathers found in Peru shows that at least four distinct species of Amazonian parrots -- the scarlet macaw (Ara macao), the blue-and-yellow macaw (Ara ararauna), the red-and-green macaw (Ara chloropterus) and mealy amazon (Amazona farinosa) -- were transported alive over the Andes centuries before the Inca Empire.

The post Ancient Parrot DNA Points to Pre-Inca Animal Trade appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

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