''Alauda'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
lark
Larks are passerine birds of the family Alaudidae. Larks have a cosmopolitan distribution with the largest number of species occurring in Africa. Only a single species, the horned lark, occurs in North America, and only Horsfield's bush lark occu ...
s found across much of Europe, Asia and in the mountains of north Africa, and one of the species (the
Raso lark
The Raso lark (''Alauda razae'') is a small passerine bird with a highly restricted range, being found only on Raso islet in the Cape Verde Islands. This critically endangered member of the family Alaudidae lives in very arid terrain, and is co ...
)
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to the islet of
Raso in the
Cape Verde Islands
, national_anthem = ()
, official_languages = Portuguese
, national_languages = Cape Verdean Creole
, capital = Praia
, coordinates =
, largest_city = capital
, demonym ...
.
[ Further, at least two additional species are known from the fossil record. The current genus name is from Latin ''alauda'', "lark". ]Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23/2479), called Pliny the Elder (), was a Roman author, naturalist and natural philosopher, and naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and a friend of the emperor Vespasian. He wrote the encyclopedic '' ...
thought the word was originally of Celtic origin.
Taxonomy and systematics
The genus ''Alauda'' was introduced by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus
Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the ...
in 1758 in the tenth edition of his ''Systema Naturae
' (originally in Latin written ' with the ligature æ) is one of the major works of the Swedish botanist, zoologist and physician Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778) and introduced the Linnaean taxonomy. Although the system, now known as binomial nomen ...
''. The type species
In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen ...
was subsequently designated as the Eurasian skylark
The Eurasian skylark (''Alauda arvensis'') is a passerine bird in the lark family, Alaudidae. It is a widespread species found across Europe and the Palearctic with introduced populations in New Zealand, Australia and on the Hawaiian Islands. ...
.
The genus ''Alauda'' has four extant and at least two extinct species. Formerly, many other species have also been considered to belong to the genus.
Extant species
The genus contains four species:
Extinct species
* †''Alauda xerarvensis'' (late Pliocene of Varshets
Varshets ( bg, Вършец, variously transliterated; ) is a spa town in Montana Province, northwestern Bulgaria. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Varshets Municipality. As of December 2019, its population is 5,444. The town ...
, Bulgaria)
* †''Alauda tivadari'' (late Miocene of Polgardi, Hungary)
Former species
Previously, some authorities also classified the following species (or subspecies) as species within the genus ''Alauda'':
* Greater hoopoe-lark (desertorum) (as ''Alauda desertorum'')
* Gray's lark
Gray's lark (''Ammomanopsis grayi'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in south-western Africa in its natural habitat
In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors th ...
(as ''Alauda grayi'')
* Short-clawed lark
The short-clawed lark (''Certhilauda chuana'') or short-clawed bush-lark, is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in Botswana and South Africa. Its natural habitat is dry savannah.
Taxonomy and systematics
Originally, the shor ...
(as ''Alauda chuana'')
* Cape long-billed lark
The Cape long-billed lark (''Certhilauda curvirostris''), also known as the Cape lark, Cape longbill or long-billed lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in south-western Africa. Its natural habitats are semi-arid Karoo s ...
(as ''Alauda curvirostris'')
* Dusky lark
The dusky lark (''Pinarocorys nigricans''), also known as the dusky bush lark or rufous-rumped bush lark, is a species of migratory lark in the family Alaudidae. It is native to the southern Afrotropics.
Range
It is found in southern Central Afr ...
(as ''Alauda nigricans'')
* Rufous-rumped lark
The rufous-rumped lark (''Pinarocorys erythropygia'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in western and central Africa from Mali, Guinea and Sierra Leone to eastern Sudan, South Sudan and north-western Uganda. Its natural h ...
(as ''Alauda erythropygia'')
* Desert lark
The desert lark (''Ammomanes deserti'') breeds in deserts and semi-deserts from Morocco to western India. It has a very wide distribution and faces no obvious threats, and surveys have shown that it is slowly increasing in numbers as it expands ...
(as ''Alauda deserti'')
* Middle East desert lark
The desert lark (''Ammomanes deserti'') breeds in deserts and semi-deserts from Morocco to western India. It has a very wide distribution and faces no obvious threats, and surveys have shown that it is slowly increasing in numbers as it expands ...
(as ''Alauda isabellina'')
* Bar-tailed lark (arenicolor) (as ''Alauda arenicolor'')
* Senegal chestnut-backed finch-lark
The chestnut-backed sparrow-lark (''Eremopterix leucotis'') is a passerine bird which is a resident breeder in Africa south of the Sahara Desert.
Taxonomy and systematics
The chestnut-backed sparrow-lark was originally placed in the genus '' L ...
(as ''Alauda melanocephala'')
* Ashy-crowned sparrow-lark
The ashy-crowned sparrow-lark (''Eremopterix griseus'') is a small sparrow-sized member of the lark family. It is found in the plains in open land with bare ground, grass and scrub across South Asia. The males are well marked with a contrasting b ...
(as ''Alauda grisea'')
* Congo Sabota lark (as ''Alauda plebeja'')
* Bradfield's lark (as ''Alauda naevia'')
* Pink-breasted lark (as ''Alauda poecilosterna'')
* Karoo lark
''The Karoo lark should not be confused with the similarly named Karoo long-billed lark.''
The Karoo lark (''Calendulauda albescens'') or red-backed lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is endemic to South Africa where its nat ...
(as ''Alauda albescens'')
* Karoo lark (codea) (as ''Alauda codea'')
* Karoo lark (guttata) (as ''Alauda guttata'')
* Dune lark
The dune lark (''Calendulauda erythrochlamys'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is endemic to Namibia where its natural habitat
In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors ...
(as ''Alauda erythrochlamys'')
* Eastern clapper lark
The eastern clapper lark (''Mirafra fasciolata'') is a small passerine bird which breeds in southern Africa. It derives its name from the wing clapping which forms part of its display flight.
Taxonomy and systematics
The Eastern clapper lark was ...
(as ''Alauda fasciolata'')
* Cape clapper lark (as ''Alauda apiata'')
* Woodlark
The woodlark or wood lark (''Lullula arborea'') is the only extant species in the lark genus ''Lullula''. It is found across most of Europe, the Middle East, western Asia and the mountains of north Africa. It is mainly resident (non- migratory) ...
(as ''Alauda arborea'')
* Botha's lark
Botha's lark (''Spizocorys fringillaris'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae.
It is endemic to South Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland and pastureland. It is threatened by habitat loss.
T ...
(as ''Alauda fringillaris'')
* Pink-billed lark (as ''Alauda conirostris'')
* Sykes's lark
Sykes's lark (''Galerida deva'') is a species of lark found in the dry open country of India. Its distribution is mainly restricted to central India, although stray records have been found elsewhere on the sub-continent. It is identified by its p ...
(as ''Alauda Deva'')
* Large-billed lark (as ''A. magnirostris'')
* Crested lark
The crested lark (''Galerida cristata'') is a species of lark widespread across Eurasia and northern Africa. It is a non-migratory bird, but can occasionally be found as a vagrant in Great Britain.
Taxonomy and systematics
The crested lark was ...
(as ''Alauda cristata'')
* Senegal crested lark (as ''Alauda senegallensis'')
* Crested lark (leautungensis) (as ''Alauda leautungensis'')
* Indian crested lark (as ''Alauda Chendoola'')
* Malabar lark
The Malabar lark, or Malabar crested lark (''Galerida malabarica'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in western India.
Taxonomy and systematics
Originally, the Malabar lark was classified in the genus ''Alauda'' before being mo ...
(as ''Alauda malabarica'')
* Horned lark
The horned lark or shore lark (''Eremophila alpestris'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found across the northern hemisphere. It is known as "horned lark" in North America and "shore lark" in Europe.
Taxonomy, evolution and systema ...
(as ''Alauda alpestris'')
* Mexican horned lark
The horned lark or shore lark (''Eremophila alpestris'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found across the northern hemisphere. It is known as "horned lark" in North America and "shore lark" in Europe.
Taxonomy, evolution and systema ...
(as ''Alauda chrysolaema'')
* Shore lark
The horned lark or shore lark (''Eremophila alpestris'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found across the northern hemisphere. It is known as "horned lark" in North America and "shore lark" in Europe.
Taxonomy, evolution and systema ...
(as ''Alauda flava'')
* Southern horned lark (as ''Alauda Penicillata'')
* Temminck's lark (as ''Alauda bilopha'')
* Mongolian short-toed lark (as ''Alauda Dukhunensis'')
* Red-capped lark
The red-capped lark (''Calandrella cinerea'') is a small passerine bird. This lark breeds in the highlands of eastern Africa southwards from Ethiopia and Somaliland. In the south, its range stretches across the continent to Angola and south to t ...
(as ''Alauda cinerea'')
* Red-capped lark (spleniata) (as ''Alauda spleniata'')
* Greater short-toed lark
The greater short-toed lark (''Calandrella brachydactyla'') is a small passerine bird. The current scientific name is from Ancient Greek. The genus name, ''Calandrella'', is a diminutive of ''kalandros'', the calandra lark, and ''brachydactila'' ...
(as ''Alauda brachydactila'')
* Steppe greater short-toed lark (as ''Alauda longipennis'')
* Bimaculated lark
The bimaculated lark (''Melanocorypha bimaculata'') breeds in warm temperate countries eastwards from Turkey into Central Asia. It is the eastern counterpart of its relative, the calandra lark.
Taxonomy and systematics
The bimaculated lark was ...
(as ''Alauda bimaculata'')
* Calandra lark
The calandra lark (''Melanocorypha calandra'') or European calandra-lark breeds in warm temperate countries around the Mediterranean and eastwards through Turkey into northern Iran and southern Russia. It is replaced further east by its relative ...
(as ''Alauda calandra'')
* Black lark
The black lark (''Melanocorypha yeltoniensis'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in south-eastern Russia and Kazakhstan.
Taxonomy and systematics
The black lark was originally placed in the genus ''Alauda''. The current genus ...
(as ''Alauda yeltoniensis'')
* Mongolian lark
The Mongolian lark (''Melanocorypha mongolica'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae
Larks are passerine birds of the family Alaudidae. Larks have a cosmopolitan distribution with the largest number of species occurring in Africa. Onl ...
(as ''Alauda mongolica'')
* Dupont's lark (as ''Alauda Duponti'')
* Mediterranean short-toed lark
The Mediterranean short-toed lark (''Alaudala rufescens'') is a small passerine bird found in and around the Mediterranean Basin. It is a common bird with a very wide range from Canary Islands north to the Iberian Peninsula and east throughout N ...
(as ''Alauda rufescens'')
* Sand lark
The sand lark (''Alaudala raytal'') is a small passerine bird in the lark family, Alaudidae, found in southern Asia. It is somewhat similar to, but smaller than the short-toed larks.
Taxonomy and systematics
The sand lark was originally assign ...
(as ''Alauda raytal'')
References
External links
{{Taxonbar, from=Q378278
Bird genera
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus