Mirafra

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Mirafra
Horsfield's Bushlark (Mirafra javanica) (12100175043) (cropped).jpg
Singing bush lark (Mirafra javanica)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Alaudidae
Genus: Mirafra
Horsfield, 1821
Type species
Mirafra javanica
Singing bush lark [1]
Horsfield, 1821
Mirafra distribution map.png
     global range of genus [2]
Synonyms
  • Geocoraphus
  • Megalophonus
  • Spilocorydon

Mirafra is a genus of lark in the family Alaudidae. Some Mirafra species are called "larks", while others are called "bush larks". They are all found in Africa except for the singing bush lark that is found through South Asia to Australia.

Contents

Taxonomy

The genus Mirafra was introduced in 1821 by the American naturalist Thomas Horsfield to accommodate a single species, Mirafra javanica the singing bush lark, which is therefore considered as the type species. [3] [4] The derivation of the genus name is unknown. [5]

A 2023 molecular phylogenetic study of the lark family Alaudidae by the Swedish ornithologist Per Alström and his collaborators found that the genus Mirafra contained deep internal genetic divergences. They therefore split Mirafra into four genera, each corresponding to a major clade. Species were moved to Plocealauda , Amirafra and Corypha leaving only seven species remaining in Mirafra. [6] [7]

Extant species

The genus contains seven species: [7]

ImageScientific nameCommon NameDistribution
Monotonous lark, Mirafra passerina, at Borakalalo National Park, Northwest Province, South Africa (16019892207).jpg Mirafra passerina Monotonous lark southern Africa.
Mirafra pulpa Friedmann's lark East Africa.
MirafraCordonfanicaWolf.jpg Mirafra cordofanica Kordofan lark Mauritania and Senegal to Niger, eastern Chad, southern Sudan and northern South Sudan
Mirafra williamsi Williams's lark northern Kenya
Horsfield's Bushlark (Mirafra javanica) (12100175043) (cropped).jpg Mirafra javanica Singing bush lark Australia and much of Southeast Asia.
Mirafra cheniana cheniana 1838.jpg Mirafra cheniana Melodious lark South Africa (Eastern Cape, the Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and North West Province), Botswana and Zimbabwe
Mirafra 2 Gronvold, Mirafra albicauda.jpg Mirafra albicauda White-tailed lark western Chad, eastern Sudan, northeastern South Sudan, south-central Ethiopia, and from Uganda and western Kenya to central Tanzania

Former species

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

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References

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  2. Based on maps in the Handbook of the Birds of the World and the BirdLife Datazone
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