Alauda fasciolata Sundevall, 1850: 99

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 : 540-541

Alauda fasciolata Sundevall, 1850: 99 .

VERBATIM TYPE LOCALITY: Sundevall referred to Smith (1849: text to plate 110, Figure 2 ) who wrote: “ Inhabits arid districts on both coasts of the Cape Colony, but in no locality are specimens abundant. ”

CURRENT STATUS: Mirafra fasciolata fasciolata ( Sundevall, 1850) ; Alaudidae ( Dickinson & Christidis 2014: 439) .

STATUS REFERENCE: The historical taxonomy is tangled. The species was initially described as Alauda rufopilea Vieillot, 1816 . Sclater (1930): 312–313 included rufopilea as a subspecies of Mirafra apiata (Vieillot, 1816) . Peters (1960a: 16) did not recognise fasciolata and noted that it was synonymous with Mirafra apiata rufopilea (Vieillot) , White 1961: 17 did not recognise fasciolata , and considered rufopilea to be indeterminate within Mirafra apiata hewitti (Roberts, 1926) , Clancey et al. (1980: 140) recognised Mirafra apiata fasciolata (Sundevall) and included Megalophonus hewitti Roberts, 1926 , within this taxon. Keith et al. (1992: 30–31), recognised M. a. hewitti , but not rufopilea or fasciolata .

TYPE MATERIAL: From Sundevall’s original description (1850: 99–100) it is apparent that the name is based on the figure in Smith (1849: Plate 110, Figure 2 ). From Sundevall’s acquisition catalogue he clearly also had four specimens collected by Wahlberg available. Gyldenstolpe (1926: 25) referred to NRM 569760 [6461] as a “type”, which we treat as a lectotype designation of this adult male collected 5 August 1843 north of Vaal River. The three paralectotypes include: a juvenile male [6460], data unknown (most probably lost); an adult male [6462] collected in “Caffraria” (if the date is correct, then the bird was collected at the Eye of the Mooi River ), 12 November 1841, exchanged to Leiden in 1850; and one adult male [6463] collected at the Eye of the Mooi River , 12 November 1841, exchanged with Berlin in 1853 (but no longer in the ZMB collection).

VERIFIED TYPE LOCALITY: Potchefstroom , North West Province .

COMMENTS: The TL was restricted to north of Potchefstroom by Gyldenstolpe (1934) but is imprecise. Wahlberg’s entries for the period 24 July–9 August 1843 are vague regarding localities. He noted that he crossed the Vaal River (probably at Skandinawiedrif at 26° 56’ south, 27° 03’ east) on 28 July, and that he continued travelling north. On 1–3 August, no locality is given but his activity is given as “resting”. On 4 August he continued travelling, spending a few days at Potchefstroom on the way, arriving at the Eye of the Mooi River (26° 12’ south, 27° 10’ east), on 9 August. Specimen label localities show that he collected at the Mooi River, or Mooi River Dorp as it was known at the time (= Potchefstroom, 26° 40’ south, 27° 05’ east) on 4, 7, and 8 August 1843, and from 9–28 August collected at the Eye of the Mooi River. The lectotype of Alauda fasciolata , collected on 5 August, must have been collected at, or very close to Potchefstroom.

Mirafra passerina Gyldenstolpe, 1926: 24 .

VERBATIM TYPE LOCALITY: “ Mohoapoani , Bechuanaland ” .

CURRENT STATUS: Mirafra passerina Gyldenstolpe, 1926 ; Alaudidae ( Dickinson & Christidis 2014: 440) .

TYPE MATERIAL: Gyldenstolpe referred for a description of the new nominal species to “ Mirafra fringillaris auct.” published by Sharpe, 1874: 649–650 + plate 75. Gyldenstolpe also stated: “As type for Mirafra passerina I designate one of our specimens, viz.: Type: ♂ ad., Mohoapoani, No. 6457”. Sharpe based his description on Sundevall, 1850: 99 and Gray (1870: 121, Mirafra occipitalis ) (which seems to be an erroneous reference back to Sundevall), and five additional specimens at Sharpe’s disposal. The type series consists of at least one ( Sharpe 1874, Plate 75, figure 1) of Sharpe’s five specimens plus three of four specimens on which Sundevall based his report (one was sent on exchange to Leiden in 1850, and it is unlikely that Gyldenstolpe had seen it). The holotype is NRM569762 [6457], a study skin of an adult male collected 7 November 1843 in Saulspoort. Paratypes are probably the additional ones mentioned: NRM 569763 [6458], a male collected 22 January 1842 at Apies River; NRM 537998 [6459], a mounted male collected 7 November 1843 at Thabazimbi (labelled Thabazimbi Mohapoani); and the specimen figured in Plate 75. However, Grant & Praed (1949: 30–31) have pointed out that Gyldenstolpe had given a nom. nov. for Mirafra fringillaris auct., not Alauda fringillaris Sundevall (Öfvers. K. Sv. Vet. Akad. Förhandl., Band 7, No. 4, 17th April 1850, p. 99). Gyldenstolpe’s name is therefore a new specific name and not a nom. nov. Sharpe’s description (1874) was based on a type series of five birds. A careful examination of the specimens in the type series identified one that must have been the holotype, and therefore Gyldenstolpe’s holotype and type locality can have no standing. Based on what is published by Sharpe (1874: 649-650) the type specimen may be NHMUK 1889.9.13.167, a study skin of a male collected 29 November 1873 in Transvaal by T.E. Buckley but may as well be one of the four specimens collected by C. J. Andersson in Namibia.

VERIFIED TYPE LOCALITY: Saulspoort , North West Province .

COMMENTS: Date and place agree with the journal entries. Wahlberg camped and collected at Saulspoort and immediate environs from 12 October to 26 November 1843. The note by Grant & Praed (1949: 30-31) has no effect under the present Code.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Sundevall’s personal acquisition catalogue, in which he recorded the date of the lectotype of Megalaema bilineata Sundevall as 4 November 1842.