Alauda is a genusoflarks found across much of Europe, Asia and in the mountains of north Africa, and one of the species (the Raso lark) endemic to the islet of Raso in the Cape Verde Islands.[1] Further, at least two additional species are known from the fossil record. The current genus name is from Latin alauda, "lark". Pliny the Elder thought the word was originally of Celtic origin.[2]
| Alauda | |
|---|---|
| |
| Eurasian skylark (Alauda arvensis) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Alaudidae |
| Genus: | Alauda Linnaeus, 1758 |
| Type species | |
| Alauda arvensis Linnaeus, 1758 | |
| Species | |
|
see text | |
The genus Alauda was introduced by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae.[3] The type species was subsequently designated as the Eurasian skylark.[4]
The genus Alauda has four extant and at least two extinct species. Formerly, many other species have also been considered to belong to the genus.
The genus contains four species:[1]
| Image | Scientific name | Common Name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Alauda leucoptera | White-winged lark | southern Ukraine through Kazakhstan to south-central Russia |
 |
Alauda razae | Raso lark | Raso islet in the Cape Verde Islands |
 |
Alauda gulgula | Oriental skylark | southern, central and eastern Asia |
| |
Alauda arvensis | Eurasian skylark | across Europe and Asia |
Previously, some authorities also classified the following species (or subspecies) as species within the genus Alauda:
