Ostrich
- Class: Birds (Aves)
- Order: Ostriches (Struthioniformes)
- Family: Ostriches (Struthionidae)
- Genus: Struthio
- Species: Struthio camelus
Size
The ostrich measures 2.5 m in height and weighs 100 to 150 kg, making it the world’s largest and heaviest living bird. Its wings are also quite large, but through evolution have lost the ability to lift the bird’s weight, rendering it completely flightless as a result.
Ecology
The ostrich lives on the African savanna. It has excellent eyesight, giving it the ability to perceive stalking predators from a long distance. The ostrich’s muscular legs are also an important part of its defence, they are able to deliver powerful defensive blows that can kill an attacking lion. When sprinting, the bird can reach speeds in excess of 70 km/h, thus compensating for the lack of ability to fly away from danger.
Food habits
The ostrich eats grass, seeds, insects, smaller mammals, as well as other birds’ eggs and young.
Longevity
Ostriches live for 30 to 40 years in the wild and in zoos up to 50 years.
Reproduction
A dominant male defends the territory and although usually paired with a single female, the major hen, will also mate with other females within the area. No nest is built, but the male excavates a shallow scrape into which the major hen lays a clutch of 6 to 11 eggs. Each egg is equivalent to approximately two dozen domestic chicken eggs.
The hatching of all eggs coincide though having been laid at different times, and it is believed that the chicks have some means of communication in preparation for the hatching.
Conservation status
In some countries ostriches are bred in farms, and currently they are not endangered in the wild.
