Ostrich is the largest living bird. With a height of up to 2.5 meters (8 feet), he was big enough for one small-bodied adults to ride them and have been used in most of North Africa and the Arab race as animal mounts. This bird can not fly and are included in the set of primitives that are less known, namely ratit (Palaeognaths). Struthio camelus scientific name.
Ostriches can not fly, however, they have strong and long legs. Leg is used to run. When running, the speed can reach 65 km / h. Short wings used to turn when you're running. According to popular belief, ostriches hide their heads known for in the ground when confronted with danger. This behavior was never recorded or seen, though ostriches are known head and neck lowered them into the ground to shelter themselves when predators approach. When threatened, ostriches are able to make predators injured by kicks from their powerful legs were. Wing feathers are not waterproof known for not having oil content in the wings. Adult male ostrich feathers dark, but the wings and tail are white. If the female fur somewhat grayish brown. Along the neck feathers are similar to the hair. Sometimes, wings open when running or when the mating season.
His eyes are large allowing good vision. Special membrane protect the eyes from dust and sand. Ostrich usually sleep by putting his head into the opening of its wings. They can live 20 to 30 years in hazardous areas. When in captivity, they can survive up to 40 years. Ostrich is the main food of fruits, leaves. However, sometimes also eat lizards and insects. Because they live in dry areas, they can survive without drinking water for a long time.
The expert group in the ostrich bird can not fly, called ratites. They are a group of the South American rhea birds, birds in Australia emu, cassowary in Papua New Guinea, and the kiwi bird in New Zealand, as well as rare birds, moa, from New Zealand, and the elephant bird in Madagascar.
The birds that belong to a group of ratites have a flat sternum, in contrast to other bird groups. The oldest fossils of ostrich-old who has discovered an estimated 40 million years ago. This bird was already a bit different since 34 million years ago. About 5 million years ago, ostriches inhabiting the area which is now the Russian state, India, and China, but now extinct.
End of the 19th century, ostrich feathers used to make hats and clothes. Right now, the meat has been used as a food menu. South Africa and the United States are the countries that have the largest ostrich farm.
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Excerpted from various sources
