The Somali lark (Corypha somalica) is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae endemic to Somalia. Ash's lark is now considered to be a subspecies.
| Somali lark | |
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| Illustration by Herbert Goodchild | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Alaudidae |
| Genus: | Corypha |
| Species: | C. somalica
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| Binomial name | |
| Corypha somalica (Witherby, 1903)
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| resident range | |
| Synonyms | |
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Taxonomy
editThe Somali lark was formally described in 1903 by the British ornithologist Harry Witherby under the binomial name Certhilauda somalica.[2][3] The species was formerly placed in the genus Mirafra. It is one of several species that were moved to the resurrected genus Corypha based on the results of a large molecular genetic study by the Swedish ornithologist Per Alström and collaborators that was published in 2023.[4][5]
The term "Somali lark" is also used as an alternate name for both Archer's lark and the russet lark.[6] The term "red Somali lark" is also used as an alternate name for the russet lark.[7] Other alternate names include "red Somali lark", "Somali bushlark" and "Somali long-billed lark".
Subspecies
editTwo subspecies are recognized:[4]
- C. s. somalica (Witherby, 1903) – north Somalia (includes rochei as a synonym)
- C. s. ashi (Colston, 1982) – central Somalia
The subspecies C. s. ashi was formerly treated as a separate species, Ash's lark. It is now considered to be a subspecies of the Somali lark based on molecular genetic and behavioral evidence, as well as a shared type locality.[4][8] It was originally described by the ornithologist Peter Colston in 1982 under the binomial name Mirafra ashi. Colston chose the specific epithet to honour the ornithologist John Ash who had collected the specimen.[9]
Distribution and habitat
editThe range of M. somalica is somewhat large, with an estimated global extent of occurrence of 270,000 km2.[1]
Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland.[10]
References
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- ^ a b BirdLife International (2016). "Mirafra somalica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22717043A94519133. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22717043A94519133.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ Witherby, Harry Forbes (1903). "Certhilauda somalica, n.sp". Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club. 14: 29.
- ^ Mayr, Ernst; Greenway, James C. Jr, eds. (1960). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 9. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 9.
- ^ a b c Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (August 2024). "Nicators, Bearded Reedling, larks". IOC World Bird List Version 14.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
- ^ Alström, P.; Mohammadi, Z.; Enbody, E.D.; Irestedt, M.; Engelbrecht, D.; Crochet, P.-A.; Guillaumet, A.; Rancilhac, L.; Tieleman, B.I.; Olsson, U.; Donald, P.F.; Stervander, M. (2023). "Systematics of the avian family Alaudidae using multilocus and genomic data". Avian Research. 14: 100095. doi:10.1016/j.avrs.2023.100095.
- ^ "Heteromirafra archeri - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-11-29.
- ^ "Mirafra sharpii - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-11-29.
- ^ Alström, P.; Mohammadi, Z.; Donald, P.F.; Nymark, M.; Enbody, E.D.; Irestedt, M.; Elisha, E.B.; Ndithia, H.K.; Tieleman, B.I.; Engelbrecht, D.; Olsson, U.; Rancilhac, L.; Stervander, M. (2024). "Integrative taxonomy reveals unrecognised species diversity in African Corypha larks (Aves: Alaudidae)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 200 (4): 1080–1108. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad107.
- ^ Colston, Harry Forbes (1982). "A new species of Mirafra (Alaudidae) and new races of the Somali Long-billed Lark Mirafra somalica, Thekla Lark Galerida malabarica and Malindi Pipit Axthus melindae from southern coastal Somalia". Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club. 102: 106-114 [107-108].
- ^ Compilers: Stuart Butchart, Jonathan Ekstrom (2008). "Somali Lark - BirdLife Species Factsheet". Evaluators: Jeremy Bird, Stuart Butchart. BirdLife International. Retrieved May 11, 2009.
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