Alaudala | |
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Mediterranean short-toed lark (Alaudala rufescens) | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Alaudidae |
Genus: | Alaudala Horsfield & Moore, F, 1858 |
Type species | |
Alauda raytal[1] Blyth, 1844
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Species | |
see text |
Alaudala is a genus of lark in the family Alaudidae. The genus name is a diminutive of Alauda.[2]
Taxonomy and systematics
A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2020 compared the nuclear and mitochondrial DNA from the sand, Asian short-toed, and lesser short-toed larks. The study analysed samples from 130 individuals that represented 16 of the 18 recognised subspecies. The resulting phylogenetic tree indicated that neither the Asian short-toed lark, nor the lesser short-toed lark as currently defined are monophyletic. Most of the subspecies were also found to be non-monophyletic. The authors refrained from proposing a revised taxonomy until additional studies had been completed comparing the vocalizations, sexual behaviour and ecology.[3]
Species
The genus Alaudala contains the following species:[4][5]
Image | Scientific name | Common Name | Distribution |
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Alaudala athensis | Athi short-toed lark | southern Kenya and northern Tanzania | |
Alaudala cheleensis | Asian short-toed lark | south-central to eastern Asia. | |
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Alaudala somalica | Somali short-toed lark | eastern and northeastern Africa. |
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Alaudala rufescens | Mediterranean short-toed lark | Mediterranean Basin and parts of the Middle East |
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Alaudala heinei | Turkestan short-toed lark | Siberia west to Turkey and north to Ukraine |
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Alaudala raytal | Sand lark | Gangetic plains |
References
- ^ "Alaudidae". aviansystematics.org. The Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
- ^ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London, United Kingdom: Christopher Helm. p. 37. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
- ^ Ghorbani, F.; Aliabadian, M.; Zhang, R.; Irestedt, M.; Hao, Y.; Sundev, G.; Lei, F.; Ma, M.; Olsson, U.; Alström, P. (2020). "Densely sampled phylogenetic analyses of the Lesser Short-toed Lark (Alaudala rufescens) — Sand Lark (A. raytal) species complex (Aves, Passeriformes) reveal cryptic diversity". Zoologica Scripta. 49 (4): 427–439. doi:10.1111/zsc.12422.
- ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (2020). "Nicators, reedling, larks". IOC World Bird List Version 10.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ "Species Updates – IOC World Bird List". Retrieved 2021-01-12.