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Spike-heeled lark facts for kids

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Spike-heeled lark
Chersomanes albofasciata (Etosha).jpg
C. a. erikssoni in Etosha National Park
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Genus:
Chersomanes
Species:
albofasciata
Subspecies

See text
Chersomanes albofasciata distribution map.png
     resident range
Synonyms
  • Certhilauda albofasciata
  • Chersomanes garrula
  • Chersomanes rufulus

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

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

Taxonomy and systematics

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

Subspecies

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

  • 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

Gallery

  • Spike-heeled lark, Chersomanes albofasciata, at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, Gauteng, South Africa (22456418200)
    A pair in flight
  • Spike-heeled lark, Chersomanes albofasciata, at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, Gauteng, South Africa (22644503235)
    C. albofasciata alticola at Suikerbosrand, Gauteng
  • Karoo Long-billed Lark (Certhilauda subcoronata) (6492992271), crop
    C. a. kalahariae in the Kgalagadi T. F. Park
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