Somali spur lark
| Somali spur lark | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Heteromirafra archeri | ||||||||||||
| ( Clarke , 1920) |
The Somali sporn lark ( Heteromirafra archeri ) is a rare, little-researched lark that is endemic to northwest Somalia . The species is named after Sir Geoffrey Francis Archer , the governor of British Somaliland from 1914 to 1922.
description
The Somali spear lark reaches a length of 14 centimeters. It has a small, plump body, a large head, an erect bonnet, and a short, thin tail. The top shows a striking scale pattern. The underside is washed leather-colored with strong stripes on the chest. The outer tail feathers are white. As with all spur larks, the hook-shaped rear claw is elongated into a spur.
distribution
As far as we know, the habitat of the Somali sporn lark is between Hargeysa and Boorama in north-western Somalia, along the border with Ethiopia . The region has an annual rainfall of 300 to 400 mm. It is located at an altitude of up to 1500 m, is rocky and was originally characterized by open bushland.
status
The last documented sighting of the Somali spear lark dates back to 1955. Expeditions to rediscover the species in the terra typica during the 1970s failed, as did the last search operations between 1996 and 2006. The former habitat of the Somali spear lark is due to the change in the scrubland and the settlement has been destroyed by civil war refugees.
The secret way of life of the Somali spur lark makes it very difficult to track them down. Presumably, therefore, it could exist in other parts of Somalia where there is still intact bushland and it has so far been overlooked. It is classified by the IUCN in the "critically endangered" category.
literature
- del Hoyo, J .; Elliot, A. & Christie D. (Editors). (2004). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 9: Cotingas to Pipits and Wagtails . Lynx Edicions. ISBN 8487334695
Web links
- Birdlife factsheet - Heteromirafra archeri
- Heteromirafra archeri in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2008. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2008. Accessed January 31 of 2009.