Somali Short-toed Lark

SCI Name:  Alaudala somalica
Protonym:  Alaudula somalica Proc.Zool.Soc.London Pt3 p.472
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Alaudidae / Alaudala
Taxonomy Code:  sstlar1
Type Locality:  Haud, Somaliland.
Author:  Sharpe
Publish Year:  1895
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

ALAUDALA
(Alaudidae; Ϯ Sand Lark A. raytal) Dim. < genus Alauda Linnaeus, 1758, Skylark; "Genus ALAUDALA, Blyth, MS. Indian Ornith. p. (1855).  713. ALAUDALA RAYTAL, F. (Buch.) Hamilton Sp.   ...   Aggia Lark, var. A., Lath., Hist. of Birds, VI, p. 308.  The Sand Lark, Blyth.  RAYTUL, Hind.  ... This bird abounds on the white sand-dunes of the Hooghly, where the stream, unchecked by the tide, deposits only fine sand, and the alluvial country round (from this cause) is everywhere light and arenaceous; this Sand Lark being scarcely ever seen except on the flat deposits of the white sand within each bend of the stream; but there they are very numerous, and (as usual) their colour approximates that of the surface.  It is not much of a musician; but often ventures on short snatches of song, frequently without rising from the ground; and I never saw it mount high like its musical neighbour the A. malabarica, whose habits and song closely resemble those of A. arvensis. The haunts of these two species border, and they may commonly be seen and heard at the same time; but this will be on the confines of each other's territory." (Horsfield & Moore 1858); "Alaudala Horsfield and Moore, 1858, Cat. Birds Mus. East-India Co., 2, p. 471. Type, by monotypy, Alauda raytal Blyth." (Peters 1960, IX, p. 44).
Var. Alaudula.

somalensis / somalica / somalicum / somalicus / somaliensis
Somaliland / Somalia (from the pastoral Samaale inhabitants of the region).

SUBSPECIES

Somali Short-toed Lark (Somali)
SCI Name: Alaudala somalica [somalica Group]
ALAUDALA
(Alaudidae; Ϯ Sand Lark A. raytal) Dim. < genus Alauda Linnaeus, 1758, Skylark; "Genus ALAUDALA, Blyth, MS. Indian Ornith. p. (1855).  713. ALAUDALA RAYTAL, F. (Buch.) Hamilton Sp.   ...   Aggia Lark, var. A., Lath., Hist. of Birds, VI, p. 308.  The Sand Lark, Blyth.  RAYTUL, Hind.  ... This bird abounds on the white sand-dunes of the Hooghly, where the stream, unchecked by the tide, deposits only fine sand, and the alluvial country round (from this cause) is everywhere light and arenaceous; this Sand Lark being scarcely ever seen except on the flat deposits of the white sand within each bend of the stream; but there they are very numerous, and (as usual) their colour approximates that of the surface.  It is not much of a musician; but often ventures on short snatches of song, frequently without rising from the ground; and I never saw it mount high like its musical neighbour the A. malabarica, whose habits and song closely resemble those of A. arvensis. The haunts of these two species border, and they may commonly be seen and heard at the same time; but this will be on the confines of each other's territory." (Horsfield & Moore 1858); "Alaudala Horsfield and Moore, 1858, Cat. Birds Mus. East-India Co., 2, p. 471. Type, by monotypy, Alauda raytal Blyth." (Peters 1960, IX, p. 44).
Var. Alaudula.

Somali Short-toed Lark (Athi)
SCI Name: Alaudala somalica athensis
athensis
Athi River, Kenya.