with the exception of red-fronted parrots, whose population seems to be decreasing. Hoppe and Welcke point out that data about the population development of Poicephalus parrots are often either inconsistent or obsolete, if they exist at all. Whereas red-bellied parrots and Senegal parrots are apparently still rather frequent, some subspecies of otherwise stable species of Poicephalus parrots have become endangered due to habitat loss and trapping. This holds true for the Poicephalus gulielmi fantiensis subspecies of the red-fronted parrot, for example, which has come under threat because of extensive deforestation and trapping (although The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) makes trade in such birds illegal). There are as yet no reliable data concerning the Niam-Niam parrot native to the Chad and Central African Republic and the yellow-fronted parrot endemic to the Ethiopian Highlands. Because of intense deforestation in its habitat, the population of the yellow-fronted parrot is probably declining. Information regarding brown-headed parrots and Rueppell's parrots are contradictory. While some studies suggest that both species have become very rare all over their respective range, other studies claim that both species are declining in numbers but are not critically endangered yet. Of those species where reliable data is available, the most critically endangered Poicephalus species is the Cape parrot which largely depends on Podocarpus seeds for his diet. With many areas of Podocarpus trees in decline due to forest clearance this species is threatened with extinction. In 2018, only 1.453 specimens of wild Cape parrots were counted, which might indicate a slight increase compared to 2004, even though the data come from different sources. Taxonomy The genus Poicephalus was introduced by the English naturalist William John Swainson in 1837. The type species was subsequently designated as the Senegal parrot. The name is from the Ancient Greek phaios "grey" and -kephalos "headed". The genus contains ten species. Red-fronted parrot, or Jardine's parrot, P. gulielmi Yellow-fronted parrot, P. flavifrons Brown-necked parrot, or uncape parrot, P. fuscicollis Cape parrot, or Levaillant's parrot, P. robustus Meyer's parrot, P. meyeri Rüppell's parrot, P. rueppellii Brown-headed parrot, P. cryptoxanthus Niam-Niam parrot, P. crassus Senegal parrot, P. senegalus Red-bellied parrot, P. rufiventris Species Subspecies The Cape parrot and red-fronted parrot form a superspecies complex. In aviculture and human care The Senegal parrot, Meyer's parrot, red-bellied parrot, and the brown-headed parrot are popular as pets because they are easier to keep in apartments, being generally