Alauda grayi Wahlberg, 1855: 213

Dean, W. Richard J., Åhlander, Erik & Johansson, Ulf S., 2022, Avian type localities and the type specimens collected by Johan August Wahlberg in southern Africa, Zootaxa 5134 (4), pp. 521-560 : 538

Alauda grayi Wahlberg, 1855: 213 .

VERBATIM TYPE LOCALITY: “ Hab. in desertis arenosis inter flumina Kuisip et Svakop terrae Damararum ”

CURRENT STATUS: Ammomanopsis grayi (Wahlberg, 1855) ; Alaudidae ( Dickinson & Christidis 2014: 435) . Monotypic.

TYPE MATERIAL: Wahlberg in his original description (1855: 213) gave data for both male and female. According to Sundevall’s manuscript acquisition catalogue three specimens were received from South Africa after Wahlberg’s death. Gyldenstolpe (1926: 26) referred to NRM 569772 [11745] as a “type”, which we treat as a lectotype designation of this study skin of a male collected 24 June 1854 in sand desert between Kuiseb River and Swakop River. The two paralectotypes are: NRM 90200072 [11744], a male with the same data as the lectotype, and NRM 534747 [11746], a mounted female collected 20 July 1854 near Swakop River .

VERIFIED TYPE LOCALITY: between Kuiseb River and Swakop River, Namibia .

COMMENTS: Wahlberg travelled from Reheboth to Rooibank, arriving there on 16 June ( Brinck 1955). His intention was to go inland, but he ended up staying at Rooibank “for a fairly long time” collecting (mainly insects) in the area, including the Namib coast, and Kuiseb and Swakop rivers ( Brinck 1955). The TL suggests that the lectotype was collected by Wahlberg en route from Walvis Bay to the mouth of the Swakop River, but the date suggests that it was collected at or near Rooibank. The label on the type is almost illegible in parts, but “Kuisep” (Kuiseb) and “Swakop” are clear. [“ Sandöknen mel. Kuisip & Svakkop ” = the sand desert between Kuiseb and Swakop]. His letter to Retzius dated 22 June 1854 ( Craig & Hummel 1994), however, notes that he [Wahlberg] intended to collect on the coast near the mouth of the Kuiseb River. This is probably where the type of Alauda grayi was collected, but without more evidence the TL cannot be further identified.