The Somali lark (''Mirafra somalica'') is a species 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 ...
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. Only a single species, the horned lark, occurs in North America, and only Horsfield's bush lark occu ...
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 Somalia.
[
]
Taxonomy and systematics
The Somali lark was originally classified as belonging to the genus ''Certhilauda
''Certhilauda'' is a genus of larks in the family Alaudidae living in the southern regions of Africa. The genus was formerly named ''Heterocorys''.
Taxonomy and systematics
Extant species
The genus ''Certhilauda'' contains six species:
* Short- ...
''. The term "Somali lark" is also used as an alternate name for both Archer's lark
Archer's lark (''Heteromirafra archeri''), also known as the Liben lark, is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in Somalia, Somaliland and Ethiopia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and subtropical ...
and Sharpe's lark
Sharpe's lark (''Mirafra sharpii'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in Somalia
Somalia, , Osmanya script: ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐; ar, ุงูุตูู
ุงู, aแนฃ-แนขลซmฤl officially the Federal Republic of Somal ...
. The term "red Somali lark" is also used as an alternate name for Sharpe's lark. Other alternate names include red Somali lark, Somali bushlark and Somali 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:
* ''M. s. somalica'' - ( Witherby, 1903): Found in northern Somalia
* ''M. s. rochei'' - Colston, 1982: Found in central Somalia
Distribution and habitat
The range
Range may refer to:
Geography
* Range (geographic), a chain of hills or mountains; a somewhat linear, complex mountainous or hilly area (cordillera, sierra)
** Mountain range, a group of mountains bordered by lowlands
* Range, a term used to i ...
of ''M. somalica'' is somewhat large, with an estimated global extent of occurrence of 270,000 km2.
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 ...
.
References
Somali lark
Endemic birds of Somalia
Somali lark
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
{{Alaudidae-stub