Certhilauda

Certhilauda
An Eastern long-billed lark (C. semitorquata) in South Africa
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Alaudidae
Genus:	Certhilauda Swainson, 1827
Type species
Alauda curvirostris Hermann, 1783
Species
6, see text
Range of the genus

Certhilauda is a genus of larks in the family Alaudidae living in the southern regions of Africa. The genus was formerly named Heterocorys.

Taxonomy

The genus Certhilauda was introduced in 1827 by the English zoologist William Swainson. He specified the type species as "L'Alouette Sirli" of the French naturalist François Levaillant. This is Alauda curvirostris, the Cape long-billed lark, described by the French naturalist Johann Hermann in 1783. ^{[1] [2] [3]} The genus name is a portmanteau of the genera Certhia for treecreepers and Alauda for the larks, both of which were introduced in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus. ^[4]

Extant species

The genus contains five species: ^[5]

• Short-clawed lark (Certhilauda chuana)
• Karoo long-billed lark (Certhilauda subcoronata)
• Benguela long-billed lark (Certhilauda benguelensis)
• Eastern long-billed lark (Certhilauda semitorquata)
• Cape long-billed lark (Certhilauda curvirostris) (includes the Agulhas long-billed lark)

Former species

Some authorities, either presently or formerly, recognize several additional species or subspecies as belonging to the genus Certhilauda, including:

• Greater hoopoe-lark (as the bifasciated lark, Certhilauda desertorum) ^[6]
• Eastern greater hoopoe-lark (as Certhilauda doriae) ^[7]
• Spike-heeled lark (as Certhilauda albofasciata) ^[8]
• Spike-heeled lark (kalahariae) (as Certhilauda kalahariae) ^[9]
• Spike-heeled lark (garrula) (as Certhilauda garrula) ^[10]
• Rufous-rumped lark (as Certhilauda erythropygia) ^[11]
• Karoo lark (as Certhilauda albescens) ^[12]
• Red lark (as Certhilauda burra, Certhilauda erythroclamys or Certhilauda harei) ^[13]
• Dune lark (as Certhilauda erythrochlamys) ^[14]
• Barlow's lark (as Certhilauda barlowi) ^[15]
• Somali lark (as Certhilauda somalica) ^[16]

References

1. Swainson, William (1827). "On several groups and forms in ornithology, not hitherto defined". Zoological Journal. 3: 158–175, 343–363 [344].
2. Levaillant, François (1805). Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux d'Afrique (in French). Vol. 4. Paris: Delachauchée. p. 125, Plate 192.
3. Dickinson, E.C.; Christidis, L., eds. (2014). The Howard & Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. Vol. 2: Passerines (4th ed.). Eastbourne, UK: Aves Press. p. 435. ISBN   978-0-9568611-2-2.
4. Jobling, James A. "Certhilauda". The Key to Scientific Names. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
5. Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (February 2025). "Nicators, Bearded Reedling, larks". IOC World Bird List Version 15.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
6. Blanford, William Thomas (1870-01-01). Observations on the Geology and Zoology of Abyssinia: Made During the Progress of the British Expedition to that Country in 1867-68. Macmillan and Company. Certhilauda desertorum.
7. "Alaemon alaudipes doriae - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-12-16.
8. "Chersomanes [albofasciata or beesleyi] - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
9. "Chersomanes albofasciata kalahariae - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-12-16.
10. "Chersomanes albofasciata garrula - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-12-16.
11. "Pinarocorys erythropygia - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
12. "Calendulauda albescens - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-11-18.
13. "Calendulauda burra - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-11-19.
14. "Calendulauda erythrochlamys - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-11-19.
15. "Calendulauda barlowi - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-11-19.
16. "Mirafra somalica - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-11-29.