Emu
Dromaius novaehollandiae
-Second in height only to the ostrich, this large bird from Australia can grow to 6 feet tall!
-Emus are also found in New Guinea, Indonesia, Solomon Islands, and the Philippines
-Emus have small, useless wings but long, very powerful legs that help them sprint up to 30 miles per hour!
-They are the only birds with calf muscles and their feet have three toes with nails to rip flesh in a fight
-These birds are considered "ratites", meaning they have a flat breastbone and lack a keel to which the flight muscles attach in flying birds (ostriches, rheas, emu, cassowaries, and kiwis are all ratites)
**Although penguins are flightless birds, they are not considered ratites because their powerful breast muscles are used for swimming instead of flying
-Another unique feature of these birds is their communication. Emus have pouches in their windpipes that, when inflated, make deep booming, drumming sounds. These sounds are typically associated with courtship in the breeding season. However, these birds also hiss as a warning sign.
-Being omnivorous, these ratites feast on seeds, grass shoots, and insects. They also feed on leaves, pods, and fruit.
-Offspring: 5-15 giant, green eggs are laid in the fall season over the course of several days or weeks, which are incubated by the males
Are these dinosaur-looking birds actually from dinosaurs?
-Though very controversial in the scientific community, many researchers have found evidence in support of the theory that coelurosaurian dinosaurs, a clade of theropod dinosaurs (meaning “beast-footed”), are the closest relatives to birds. In recent studies, birds were found to be descendants of small, non-flying theropods. The knowledge of evolutionary history and phylogeny in regards to dinosaurs is constantly changing with new discoveries.
HERE AT ALAMEDA:
In the fall here, you can often find giant, avocado-looking eggs in the corners of the emu exhibit. One large dark green emu egg has the same weight and volume as 10-12 chicken eggs!
Dromaius novaehollandiae
-Second in height only to the ostrich, this large bird from Australia can grow to 6 feet tall!
-Emus are also found in New Guinea, Indonesia, Solomon Islands, and the Philippines
-Emus have small, useless wings but long, very powerful legs that help them sprint up to 30 miles per hour!
-They are the only birds with calf muscles and their feet have three toes with nails to rip flesh in a fight
-These birds are considered "ratites", meaning they have a flat breastbone and lack a keel to which the flight muscles attach in flying birds (ostriches, rheas, emu, cassowaries, and kiwis are all ratites)
**Although penguins are flightless birds, they are not considered ratites because their powerful breast muscles are used for swimming instead of flying
-Another unique feature of these birds is their communication. Emus have pouches in their windpipes that, when inflated, make deep booming, drumming sounds. These sounds are typically associated with courtship in the breeding season. However, these birds also hiss as a warning sign.
-Being omnivorous, these ratites feast on seeds, grass shoots, and insects. They also feed on leaves, pods, and fruit.
-Offspring: 5-15 giant, green eggs are laid in the fall season over the course of several days or weeks, which are incubated by the males
Are these dinosaur-looking birds actually from dinosaurs?
-Though very controversial in the scientific community, many researchers have found evidence in support of the theory that coelurosaurian dinosaurs, a clade of theropod dinosaurs (meaning “beast-footed”), are the closest relatives to birds. In recent studies, birds were found to be descendants of small, non-flying theropods. The knowledge of evolutionary history and phylogeny in regards to dinosaurs is constantly changing with new discoveries.
HERE AT ALAMEDA:
In the fall here, you can often find giant, avocado-looking eggs in the corners of the emu exhibit. One large dark green emu egg has the same weight and volume as 10-12 chicken eggs!