The spike-heeled lark (Chersomanes albofasciata) is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in southern Africa.[2]

Spike-heeled lark
C. a. erikssoni in Etosha National Park
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Alaudidae
Genus: Chersomanes
Species:
C. albofasciata
Binomial name
Chersomanes albofasciata
(Lafresnaye, 1836)
Subspecies

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     resident range
Synonyms
  • Certhilauda albofasciata
  • Chersomanes garrula
  • Chersomanes rufulus

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland.[1]

Taxonomy and systematics

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Originally, the spike-heeled lark was considered to belong to the genus Certhilauda (as C. albofasciata).[3] Alternately, it has been called the rufous long-billed lark.

Subspecies

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Presently, ten subspecies are recognized.[4] Additionally, Beesley's lark was also formerly classified as a subspecies of the spike-heeled lark.[5]

  • Benguella rufous long-billed lark (C. a. obscurata) - Hartert, 1907: Found in south-western and central Angola
  • Ovampo rufous long-billed lark (C. a. erikssoni) - (Hartert, 1907): Found in northern Namibia
  • C. a. kalahariae - (Ogilvie-Grant, 1912): Originally described as a separate species in the genus Certhilauda. Found in southern and western Botswana, northern South Africa
  • C. a. boweni - (Meyer de Schauensee, 1931): Found in north-western Namibia
  • Damara rufous long-billed lark (C. a. arenaria) - (Reichenow, 1904): Found in southern Namibia and south-western South Africa
  • C. a. barlowi - White, CMN, 1961: Found in eastern Botswana
  • C. a. alticola - Roberts, 1932: Found in north-eastern South Africa
  • Rufous long-billed lark (C. a. albofasciata) - (Lafresnaye, 1836): Found in south-eastern Botswana to central South Africa
  • C. a. garrula - (Smith, A, 1846): Originally described as a separate species in the genus Certhilauda. Found in western South Africa
  • C. a. macdonaldi - (Winterbottom, 1958): Found in southern South Africa
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References

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  1. ^ a b BirdLife International (2017). "Chersomanes albofasciata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22717188A118706767. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22717188A118706767.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Nicators, reedling & larks « IOC World Bird List". www.worldbirdnames.org. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  3. ^ "Chersomanes albofasciata - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  4. ^ "IOC World Bird List 6.4". IOC World Bird List Datasets. doi:10.14344/ioc.ml.6.4.
  5. ^ "Chersomanes beesleyi - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
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