Alauda

Genus of birds From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Alauda is a genus of larks found across much of Europe, Asia and in the mountains of north Africa, with one species (the Raso lark) endemic to the islet of Raso in the Cape Verde Islands.[1] At least two additional species are known from the fossil record. The genus name is from Latin alauda, "lark". Pliny the Elder thought the word was originally of Celtic origin.[2]

Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Family:Alaudidae
Quick facts Scientific classification, Type species ...
Alauda
Eurasian skylark (Alauda arvensis)
Song of Eurasian skylark
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Alaudidae
Genus: Alauda
Linnaeus, 1758
Type species
Alauda arvensis
Linnaeus, 1758
Species

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Taxonomy and systematics

The genus Alauda was introduced by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae.[3] The type species was subsequently designated as the Eurasian skylark.[4]

The genus Alauda has four extant and at least two extinct species. Formerly, many other species have also been considered to belong to the genus.

Extant species

The genus contains four species:[1]

More information Image, Scientific name ...
ImageScientific nameCommon nameDistribution
Alauda leucopteraWhite-winged larksouthern Ukraine through Kazakhstan to south-central Russia
Alauda razaeRaso larkRaso islet in the Cape Verde Islands
Alauda gulgulaOriental skylarksouthern, central and eastern Asia
Alauda arvensisEurasian skylarkacross Europe and Asia
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Extinct species

  • Alauda xerarvensis (late Pliocene of Varshets, Bulgaria)[5]
  • Alauda tivadari (late Miocene of Polgardi, Hungary)[6]

Former species

Previously, some authorities also classified the following species (or subspecies) as species within the genus Alauda:

References

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