Biology:Eremophila (bird)

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Short description: Genus of birds


Eremophila
Shore Lark.jpg
Horned lark (Eremophila alpestris)
Scientific classification e
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Alaudidae
Genus: Eremophila
F. Boie, 1828
Type species
Alauda alpestris[1]
Linnaeus, 1758
Species

see text

Synonyms
  • Otocorys
  • Phileremos
  • Pliocalcarius

The bird genus Eremophila comprises the two horned larks.

Taxonomy and systematics

The current genus name is from Ancient Greek eremos, "desert", and phileo, "to love".[2]

Extant species

Image Scientific name Common Name Distribution
Shore Lark.jpg Eremophila alpestris Horned lark Europe, Asia, North America
Temminck's Lark - Boumelne Marocco 07 2990 (16327387013).jpg Eremophila bilopha Temminck's lark Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia and Western Sahara

Extinct species

There is at least one fossil species included in this genus:

  • Eremophila orkhonensis (late Pliocene of Central Asia, synonym = Pliocalcarius orkhonensis)[3]
  • Eremophila prealpestris (late Pliocene of Varshets, Bulgaria)[4]

Description

Unlike most other larks, these are distinctive looking species with striking head and face patterns, black and white in Temminck's lark and black and yellow in most horned larks. In the summer males of both species have black "horns", which give these larks their alternative names.

Distribution and habitat

These are larks of open country which nest on the ground. The migratory horned lark breeds across much of northern North America, Europe and Asia and in the mountains of Europe. Temminck's lark is mainly a resident breeding species across much of north Africa, through northern Arabia to western Iraq.

References

  1. "Alaudidae". The Trust for Avian Systematics. https://www.aviansystematics.org/4th-edition-checklist?viewfamilies=163. 
  2. Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 148. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4. https://archive.org/details/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling. 
  3. E. S. Palastrova; N. V. Zelenkov (2020). "A fossil species of Eremophila and other larks (Aves, Alaudidae) from the Upper Pliocene of the Selenga River valley (Central Asia)". Paleontological Journal 54 (2): 187–204. doi:10.1134/S0031030120020124. https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=42445802. 
  4. Boev, Z. 2012. Neogene Larks (Aves: Alaudidae (Vigors, 1825)) from Bulgaria - Acta zoologica bulgarica, 64 (3), 2012: 295-318.

Wikidata ☰ Q1951679 entry