The Benguela long-billed lark (''Certhilauda benguelensis''), also known as the Benguela lark or Benguela longbill is a species of
lark in the family
Alaudidae. It is found in south-western Africa. Its natural
habitat
In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...
is subtropical or tropical dry lowland
grassland
A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominated by grasses (Poaceae). However, sedge (Cyperaceae) and rush (Juncaceae) can also be found along with variable proportions of legumes, like clover, and other herbs. Grasslands occur natur ...
.
Taxonomy and systematics
The Benguela long-billed lark was originally placed in the genus ''
Alaemon
''Alaemon'' is a genus of birds in the family Alaudidae, commonly called hoopoe larks.
Taxonomy and systematics
The name ''Alaemon'' comes from the Greek ''alēmōn'', meaning "wanderer" (from ''alaomai'', meaning "to wander"). The genus was est ...
''. Confusingly, the terms Damara longbill and Damaraland long-billed lark are used for both the
Karoo long-billed lark and a subspecies of the Benguela long-billed lark. Clements lumps this bird with the Karoo long-billed lark.
Subspecies
Two
subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
are recognized:
* ''C. b. benguelensis'' -
( Sharpe, 1904): Found in south-western Angola and north-western Namibia
* Damara longbill or Damaraland long-billed lark (''C. b. kaokoensis'') -
Bradfield, 1944: Found in north-western and west-central Namibia
References
* BirdLife International 2004.
Certhilauda benguelensis 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Downloaded on 24 July 2007.
Benguela long-billed lark
Fauna of Angola
Benguela long-billed lark
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
{{Alaudidae-stub
