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Certhilauda

Genus of birds

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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. The genus name is a portmanteau of the genera Certhia for treecreepers and Alauda for the larks, both of which were named in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus.

Extant species

The genus contains four species:

Former species

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

  • Greater hoopoe-lark (as the bifasciated lark, Certhilauda desertorum)
  • Eastern greater hoopoe-lark (as Certhilauda doriae)
  • Spike-heeled lark (as Certhilauda albofasciata)
  • Spike-heeled lark (kalahariae) (as Certhilauda kalahariae)
  • Spike-heeled lark (garrula) (as Certhilauda garrula)
  • Rufous-rumped lark (as Certhilauda erythropygia)
  • Karoo lark (as Certhilauda albescens)
  • Red lark (as Certhilauda burra, Certhilauda erythroclamys or Certhilauda harei)
  • Dune lark (as Certhilauda erythrochlamys)
  • Barlow's lark (as Certhilauda barlowi)
  • Somali lark (as Certhilauda somalica)

More in Animals

Monotypic taxonTaxonomic group with only one subordinate taxonSpecies descriptionFormal description of a discovered speciesParaphylyType of taxonomic groupIUCN Red ListInventory of the global conservation status of biological speciesSubtropicsGeographic and climate zoneCommon nameName generally used for a taxon, group of taxa or organism(s)