Are ostriches found in Africa? African ostrich: description, features and interesting facts. How emus breed

Ostriches are huge birds with a wingspan of up to two meters that cannot fly. Their meat, feathers and eggs have always been appreciated by people, and the breeding of these animals has recently become very popular. What makes the African ostrich different from other birds? Do they hide their heads in the sand in case of danger? Can emu and rhea be called ostriches? Let's figure it out.

Who is the ostrich here?

Throughout the history of our planet, the order of ostriches included about 14 species. Most of them became extinct three to six million years ago. Until now, only one species of these amazing creatures has survived - African.

There are several subspecies that belong to African ostriches. Nanda and emu, by the way, are not considered as such. They are not ostriches at all. Although they are often confused due to their large size, elongated neck, inability to fly, and other similar signs.

However, even scientists until the 1980s called the emu the Australian ostrich. After a more detailed study, the birds were classified as cassowary, and the rhea were assigned to a separate order of rhea-like.

The African ostrich includes the North African, Masai, Southern and Somali subspecies. They differ from each other mainly in skin tone, size, and habitat, which can already be traced in their names.

Description of the African ostrich

Ostriches are large birds with a long neck and massive body. They have a small head with a flat and wide beak. It is soft and has a small horny outgrowth on the beak. The eyes of the African ostrich are large, with long eyelashes.

Their neck, head and legs are practically naked, covered with fine sparse downy hairs. The skin comes in a variety of colors - from gray to pinkish (Masai subspecies) or bluish (Somali subspecies). The feathers on the body are thick and soft, they curl and are very fluffy. The males are black with a white border on the wings and tail. Females are more inconspicuous, their color is gray-brown.

Ostriches don't fly. They move with powerful and strong legs. The hind limbs are equipped with highly developed muscles and allow their owners not only to run and walk quickly, but also to defend themselves from enemies. The kick of an African ostrich's leg is stronger than that of a horse.

They have excellent eyesight, but the brain of birds is much less developed. In relation to the body of an animal, it is very small, which always indicates the limitations of its abilities. On average, this organ weighs 45-50 grams.

Features and differences from other birds

Despite the fact that the African ostrich belongs to the class of birds, it is very different from them. He is completely unable to fly. Even if he tried, he would hardly succeed. Ostriches lack a keel - a special bony outgrowth responsible for raising and lowering wings in flight. In place of this, they have formed a very dense area of \u200b\u200bskin, on which the bird rests, lying on the ground.

The wings of the animal are underdeveloped and reach only 2 meters in swing. For a bird of this size, this is not enough, they simply cannot lift it into the air. The wings are used to maintain balance while running, to attract a partner during mating season, and to scare off enemies.

The African ostrich has only two toes on each foot, while other birds have four. One toe is longer than the other and ends in a hoof-like horny growth. It serves as a support while running.

Closed basin of ostriches. His pubic bones are fused together. The excretory system consists of the anal and urogenital opening. All flying birds have only one hole, they simply do not have a bladder.

• In Greek (στρουθίο-κάμηλος) and Latin (Struthio camelus) in languages, the ostrich is called "camel-sparrow" or "camel-bird". There are several reasons for this comparison. The first is the bird's living in hot climates and the ability to live long without water. The second is their forked foot. Or perhaps the very outline of the ostrich reminded scientists of a camel.
• Of all the birds, the African ostrich has the largest eggs. The diameter of each can reach 20 centimeters, and the weight is two kilograms. At the same time, they are considered the smallest when compared with the size of adult birds.

• Ostriches also hit other size records. They are the tallest and heaviest members of the bird class, and also have the largest eyes. The highest is the North African subspecies: animals grow up to 2.75 meters. They weigh within 60 kilograms.
• There is a legend that in times of danger they hide their heads in the sand. It is a myth. Sensing trouble, the animal tries to leave or run away. With all its might, ostriches will fight back only when there is nowhere to go. However, during the incubation period, they become very aggressive and attack anyone they consider a threat.
• Ostriches are great runners. The maximum speed that an animal can develop is 70 kilometers per hour. At the same time, at full speed, he perfectly manages to turn and change the direction of travel.
• The inability to fly is a reacquired trait. The ancestors of African ostriches, just like kiwis, cassowaries and rhea, were able to fly. Only over time did they lose this ability.

Habitat

In the distant past, ostriches lived in Africa, Georgia, China, Mongolia, Moldova, Ukraine and the territory of Transbaikalia. Now they can be found only on the territory of the African continent. Animals inhabit semi-desert areas and savannahs. They cannot be found in swampy and densely grassy areas, since in such an area it is difficult to escape from predators.

In the eastern part, within Somalia and Kenya, Somali ostriches live. Their skin is bluish, and the females' plumage is more saturated than that of other subspecies. Based on genetic data, they are often identified as a separate species of bird.

In the southern parts of Somalia and Kenya, you can see another subspecies - the Masai. He also lives in Tanzania and Ethiopia. The common, or North African ostrich, inhabits Cameroon, Senegal, CAR and Chad. Southern ostriches live in the southwestern regions of the continent, mainly in Namibia, Zambia, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana.

Lifestyle

African ostriches live in harems of 5-6 individuals. Outside the breeding season, they gather in numerous herds - up to 100 individuals. The male and the dominant female are always at the head. They are responsible for the movement of the group and its safety.

Ostriches are diurnal animals, but they rest during hot hours. Bird activity begins in the afternoon. They sleep at night, but they can stay awake during full moon periods. They are much lighter than other animals capable of tolerating heat. To do this, their body temperature rises by several degrees, reducing the difference with the environment.

They drink a lot, but if there is no water, they calmly do without it for a long time. They are able to survive after losing even 25% of their weight as a result of dehydration. Birds feed mainly on plant foods: seeds, leaves and flowers of plants. Small animals and insects are eaten occasionally.

Reproduction

The breeding season for the African ostrich lasts from March to September. It begins with mating dances, which the male performs in front of each female in the harem. The “groom” squats a little, and then actively flaps and shakes his wings. The neck of males in the mating season acquires a more intense color. In the Masai subspecies, for example, it turns from pink to bright red.

After mating, the future father is engaged in the construction of the nest, digging a depression up to 3 meters in diameter and up to 60 centimeters deep. A little later, all fertilized birds in the harem will lay their eggs in it. The right of primacy in this important matter belongs, of course, to the main female. She also incubates them during the day, and at night her father replaces her. However, they are often left unattended.

Hatching occurs in 35-45 days. Caring for young ostriches is largely the responsibility of the father. He watches them, shelters them from the hot sun, etc. Newborn chicks are able to see and walk on their own. They weigh about 1 kilogram and are growing rapidly. At the age of 2-4 years, they are already completely similar to adults and can reproduce.

Predators prefer to steal eggs or hunt cubs. They rarely attack adults, gathering for this in groups and getting up from behind.

Economic value

People have always been partial to these birds. Almost everything is valued in them: feathers, meat, skin, fat, eggs. In Europe, bird feathers were especially popular. They were used to decorate ladies' hats, to make fans and fans from them.

Bird eggs have a very strong 2 mm shell, so they are good for crafts. Previously, they were used to make cups and bowls. A separate place was and is occupied by various crafts from them. The eggs are painted or carved with special tools.

The skin of ostriches is waterproof, soft and stretches well, while being durable and lasts up to 30 years. Belts and bags are sewn from it, car interiors are decorated with it, jackets, shoes and other clothes are made.

In addition, birds have nutritional value. Their eggs are much superior in quality to chicken eggs, as they contain more useful amino acids, lysine and threonine. Poultry meat is considered dietary. It contains few calories, but has vitamins of group B, E, PP, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and other substances.

Ostrich farms

The high demand for these birds greatly reduced their numbers by the early 19th century. To prevent them from disappearing altogether (and, of course, to earn a little money), they began to open special farms for breeding African ostriches. The first appeared in 1838 in South Africa.

Farms now exist in about a hundred countries around the world. In the CIS countries, business began to gain momentum only in recent decades. Despite the fact that this bird is southern and lives in hot desert areas, it tolerates cold weather well. In Russia, for example, there are farms in the Tyumen, Novosibirsk, Leningrad, Tver and Sverdlovsk regions.

The price of an African ostrich depends on the sex and age of the animal. Young ostriches up to one month old cost from $ 150-200. An ostrich family can cost from 4-5 thousand dollars. A kilogram of poultry meat will cost 250 rubles, and an egg costs on average 800 rubles.

In our article, we want to talk about though not flying. The ostrich is a funny and unusual bird. Generally speaking, each breed is unique and has its own characteristics. Ostriches, on the other hand, fascinate first of all by their dissimilarity to others. In our country, these beautiful birds can be seen infrequently, and therefore it is so interesting to watch them.

What kind of bird?

It is believed that these special birds appeared on the planet 12 million years ago. Absolutely all types of ostriches belong to the subclass (flightless), they are also called running. Ostriches live in warm countries of Australia and Africa, preferring semi-desert areas and savannahs.

These special birds are completely different in behavior from their counterparts. An interesting fact is that in translation from Greek the word "ostrich" means nothing more than "camel-sparrow." Isn't it a funny comparison for so How at the same time the same creature can look like two completely different individuals? Probably not for nothing that people who hide from problems are called ostriches. After all, there is even such a popular expression: "Hide your head in the sand, like an ostrich." Do birds actually behave this way and how did they deserve such an unflattering comparison?

It turns out that in real life, ostriches do not hide their heads. In a moment of danger, the female can rub her head on the ground to be less noticeable. In this way, she tries to save her offspring. From the outside, it may seem that the bird is thrusting its head into the sand, but this is completely wrong. Animals in the wild have many enemies: lions, jackals, eagles, hyenas, snakes, birds of prey, lynxes.

Appearance

No other bird on earth can boast of such a large size. The ostrich is undoubtedly the largest bird on the planet. But at the same time, such a strong and large creature cannot fly. Which, in principle, is not so surprising. The weight of the ostrich reaches 150 kilograms, and the height is 2.5 meters.

At first it may seem that the bird is rather awkward and awkward. But this is not at all the case. It just knocks down the dissimilarity of this creature to all other birds. Ostriches have a large body, a small head, but a very long neck. Birds have very unusual eyes that stand out on the head and are bordered by thick eyelashes. The legs of the ostrich are long and strong.

The bird's body is covered with slightly curly and loose feathers. Their color can be brown with white, black with white patterns (mainly in males). What distinguishes all types of ostriches from other birds is the complete absence of the so-called keel.

Ostrich species

Ornithologists classify ostriches as running birds, which include four families: three-toed creatures, two-toed and cassowaries, as well as kiwi (small wingless).

Currently, there are several subspecies of African birds: Massai, Berberian, Malay and Somali. All these types of ostriches exist to this day.

But two more species once lived on earth, but now they are classified as extinct: South African and Arab. All African representatives are of impressive size. It is difficult to find another bird with such parameters. The weight of an ostrich can reach one and a half centners (this applies to males), but females are more modest in size.

It is also worth remembering the rhea. This is the second species, which is very often referred to as ostriches. It includes two representatives: Darwin's rhea and great rhea. These birds live in the Amazon basin and on the plateaus and plains of the South American mountains.

Representatives of the third order (cassowary) live in New Guinea and Northern Australia. It includes two families: cassowary (cassowary muruka and common cassowary) and emu.

But the latter is kiwi. They live in New Zealand and are even its symbol. Kiwis are very modest in size compared to other running birds.

African ostriches

The African ostrich, although it is the largest bird on earth, is deprived of the ability to fly. But then nature has endowed him with an amazing ability to run incredibly fast.

The bird has another feature that we mentioned - it's a small head, which gave rise to talk about the fact that ostriches have very meager mental abilities.

The African ostrich has only two toes on its feet. A similar phenomenon cannot be found among other representatives of the avian world. An interesting fact is that these two fingers are very different. The large one looks more like a hoof, the smaller one is much less developed. However, this does not in the least interfere with running fast. In general, the ostrich is a strong bird, you should not get too close to it, since it can hit with a powerful paw. Adults can easily carry humans. The animal can also be attributed to centenarians, since it can live up to 60-70 years.

Lifestyle

The ostrich is a polygamous animal. In nature, during the mating season, males are surrounded by a whole harem of females, among which there is the most important. This period lasts from March to October. For the entire season, the female can lay from 40 and up to 80 is very large. The shell is very white on the outside, giving the impression that it is made of porcelain. Plus, it's also durable. An ostrich egg weighs between 1100 and 1800 grams.

An interesting fact is that all females of one ostrich lay eggs in one nest. The father of the family incubates his offspring with the female that he chooses. An ostrich chick is born sighted and weighs about a kilogram. He moves well enough and after a day begins to independently obtain his own food.

Bird features

Birds have good eyesight and horizons. This is due to the peculiarities of their structure. Flexible and special eye positioning make it possible to survey large spaces. Birds are able to focus on objects that are far away. This gives them and other animals the opportunity to avoid danger in the pasture.

In addition, the bird can run perfectly, while developing a speed of up to 80 kilometers per hour. In those parts where the ostrich lives, in the wild, it is surrounded by an incredible number of predators. Therefore, good eyesight and the ability to run fast are excellent qualities that help to avoid the clutches of the enemy.

What does an ostrich eat?

Since animals live in hot climates, they cannot always eat well. Therefore, they are omnivorous. Of course, plants are the main food. But ostriches can also eat up the remains of predators, insects, reptiles. In terms of food, they are completely unpretentious and tolerate hunger very steadfastly.

Nanda

The rhea lives in the mountains of South America. This bird is similar to an ostrich, but has a more modest size. The animal weighs about forty kilograms, and its height does not exceed one hundred and thirty centimeters. Outwardly, the rhea is not very beautiful. Its plumage is completely nondescript and rare (barely covers the body), and feathers on the wings are not too lush. The rhea has powerful legs with three toes. Animals mainly feed on plants, tree shoots, seeds.

During the breeding season, females lay from 13 to 30 eggs, each of which weighs no more than 700 grams. The male prepares a hole for the eggs and incubates all of them himself and then takes care of the offspring.

In nature, there are two types of rhea: common and northern. At the beginning of the twentieth century, these animals were quite numerous, but soon found themselves on the verge of destruction due to mass extermination. And the reason for this is delicious meat and egg collection. In natural conditions, rhea can be seen only in the most remote places. Only there they managed to survive. But the rhea is hastily bred on farms and kept in zoos.

Emu

Emu outwardly slightly resembles a cassowary. In length, the bird reaches 150-190 centimeters, and its weight ranges from 30-50 kilograms. The animal is capable of speeds of about 50 kilometers per hour. This is facilitated by the presence of long legs, which enable the birds to take steps up to 280 centimeters long.

The emu has absolutely no teeth, and in order for the food in the stomach to grind, the birds swallow stones, glass and even pieces of metal. Animals have not only very strong and developed legs, but also excellent sight and hearing, which makes it possible for them to detect predators before they have time to attack.

Emu features

Emus can have different plumage depending on where they live. The feathers of the animal have a very special structure that prevents them from overheating. This allows the birds to be active even in very hot periods. Emus generally tolerate a temperature difference from -5 to +45 degrees. Outwardly, females and males do not have much difference, but they make different sounds. Females usually scream louder than males. In the wild, birds live for 10 to 20 years.

Emus have small wings, a long light blue neck with gray-brown feathers that protect their skin from ultraviolet radiation. The birds' eyes are covered with blinking membranes that protect them from debris and dust in windy and arid deserts.

Emus are distributed almost throughout Australia, as well as on the island of Tasmania. Exceptions are dense forests, arid regions and large cities.

Animals feed on plant food, these are the fruits of shrubs and trees, plant leaves, grass, roots. They usually feed in the morning. They often enter the fields and eat the crops of grain crops. Emus can also eat insects. But animals drink quite rarely (once a day). If there is a large amount of water nearby, then they can drink several times a day.

Emus often become victims of animals and birds: foxes, dingo dogs, hawks and eagles. Foxes steal eggs, and birds of prey strive to kill.

Emu breeding

During the mating season, females acquire a more beautiful shade of feathers. They are quite aggressive and often fight among themselves. They can fight intensely for a lonely male.

During the season, emus lay 10-20 eggs of a dark green color with a very thick shell. Each of them weighs about a kilogram. Emus are also polygamous, and therefore several females lay eggs in one nest, after which the male incubates them. The hatched chicks weigh about half a kilogram, while their growth is 12 centimeters. At a time when the males are busy gathering offspring, they become incredibly aggressive, and therefore it is better not to disturb them.

In Australia's wildlife, birds are protected by law, but this is just a formality. In fact, many populations have long been on the brink of extinction. Emu is the symbol and pride of the Australian continent.

From the history…

It is believed that ostriches appeared on the planet 12 million years ago. And the trade in the feathers of these animals dates back to the early Egyptian civilizations and goes back three thousand years. In some countries, even before the beginning of our era, animals were kept in captivity. In ancient Egypt, noble ladies rode on ostriches to celebrations. Animal feathers were in great demand at the beginning of the nineteenth century, which led to a significant reduction in the number of birds. In the middle of the century, a period of rapid development of ostrich breeding began. The first farm in Africa appeared in 1838. The animals were bred solely for the purpose of obtaining valuable feathers. For example, in South Africa, at that time, the export of feather was in fourth place after the export of gold, wool and diamonds.

Gradually, ostriches began to be bred in captivity in other countries and on other continents: in the USA, Algeria, Egypt, Australia, Italy, Argentina, New Zealand. But during the two world wars, this type of business almost ceased to exist, and the number of farms decreased significantly.

Instead of an afterword

In zoological literature, African ostriches, rhea and emu are classified as running birds. However, as we have already mentioned, only the African ostrich can be attributed to the ostrich, which is rightly considered the largest bird.

The world around us is full of unusual and outlandish animals. And one of them can be considered ostriches. These cute and adorable creatures with big eyes just can't help but please. Currently, even in our latitudes, ostriches are bred in households to obtain valuable meat, eggs, feathers, and just as exotic pets.

The African ostrich is considered the largest bird in the world and the only representative of the ostrich order, the ostrich family, the ostrich genus. The African ostrich belongs to the bird class and the ratite subclass.

Since 1758, the international name for the African ostrich is considered to be Struthio camelus, Linnaeus.

The biological name of this bird is literally translated from Greek as “camel-sparrow”.

This name arose because of its characteristic features: the ostrich has the same expressive eyes as the camel, with large eyelashes, as well as two-fingered limbs and pectorals. But, to compare an ostrich with a sparrow, most likely, they began thanks to its poorly developed wings.

Description

Is an ostrich a bird or an animal? The African ostrich is considered a unique bird that cannot fly and has no keel. This bird has only two toes on its paws, which is also a kind of exception among the rest of the representatives of the class of birds.

Ostriches are the largest birds on our planet. The average height of an adult reaches 2.7 m, and its weight reaches 156 kg. However, the average weight of an ostrich usually hovers around 50 kg. It is also worth noting that males are much larger than females.

The ostrich skeleton is considered non-pneumatic, the only exception is the femur. The ends of the pubic bones have grown together to form a closed pelvis, which is also very unusual for other bird species.

African ostriches are distinguished by their dense constitution, a strongly elongated neck, a small flattened head, which ends in an even, wide and flat beak. There is a soft build-up of horny tissue on the beak. Individuals have large eyes, and have long and thick eyelashes on the upper eyelid.

As already mentioned, the keel is completely absent in these representatives of the class of birds. The sternum of African ostriches is very poorly developed. On its surface, you can also notice a bare area of \u200b\u200bthe thick skin, which is a pectoral callus. This corn acts as a support when the bird lies on the ground.

Underdeveloped wings act as the forelimbs, each of which has two fingers, ending in sharp claws. Behind the bird there are long, strong, muscular legs, which also have two toes. One of them has a kind of hoof that acts as a support while running.

The African ostrich has loose and curly plumage. Feathers are distributed evenly throughout the body. There are no feathers on the head, neck and legs; instead, the skin in these areas is covered with soft and short down. The feathers of the bird have a primitive structure: the beards hardly adhere to each other and do not form a fan. The African ostrich has very beautiful feathers and there are a lot of them:

• 16 flywheels of the first order;
• 20 flywheels of the second order;
• 50-60 steering.

It is very easy to distinguish a male from a female. The plumage of an adult male is black, with the exception of the tail and wings, which are white. Females are more inconspicuous in appearance. Their plumage is gray-brown in color, and their wings and tail appear off-white.

What do they eat?

The ostrich can be called an omnivorous bird. Despite the fact that the diet of young individuals consists mainly of animal food, adult birds consume more vegetation. Their main diet consists of:

• Herbs;
• Shoots;
• Plant seeds;
• Flowers;
• Ovaries;
• Fruits.

However, adult ostriches do not refuse from various animals:

• Locusts;
• Lizards;
• Small rodents;
• They fell in the form of uneaten food from predators.

Birds have nothing to chew on their food, so they use sand, small stones, as well as chips, fragments of plastic, metal, and even nails to improve digestion. It is worth noting that individuals can go hungry for several days. Like camels, these individuals can live without water for a long time. The animals will have enough liquid, which they consume from the green mass of plants. When ostriches get access to water, they drink a lot and willingly. With great pleasure, these birds also love to swim.

Where do ostriches live?

Where do ostriches live, and what is their way of life? These birds live in Africa. Birds try to avoid wet forests and prefer open grassy areas or semi-deserts located north and south of equatorial woodlands.

Animals, as a rule, live in group families, consisting of a mature male, 4-5 females, and their offspring. Often the number of one group reaches 30 individuals... Juveniles that live in the south of the range live in groups of up to 100 birds.

Often, African ostriches share pastures with herds of antelopes or zebras, and animals and birds treat each other peacefully. They travel together through the hot savannahs. Due to their high growth and excellent vision, birds are immediately able to notice the approach of a predator and quickly run away. The length of one step is 4 m. Ostrich speed reaches 70 km / h... These animals can abruptly change the direction of their movement without reducing their speed. Young chicks are practically not inferior in running speed to their parents. At the age of one month, they are capable of speeds up to 50 km / h.

The main types of ostriches

During the Pleistocene and Pliocene, there were several species of these individuals on the planet, which lived in Western and Central Asia, India and the southern regions of Eastern Europe. The lack of control over the extermination of ostriches has led to a sharp decline in their population. Currently, the only species includes 4 subspecies that live only in Africa. These surviving subspecies include the following:

Everyone knows the ostrich. More often children, but sometimes adults, wonder where the ostrich lives.

The first thing that comes to mind is Africa. Yes, indeed they are found only on this continent. Today and, which for a long time were also considered ostriches, are classified as separate species, and is recognized as the largest bird in the world and is capable of running at speeds up to 70 km per hour.

It is important for a bird to have a good view, since, without flying, it can escape from its natural enemies, such as cheetahs, lions, hyenas and leopards, only by noticing them in time and running away. Due to active domestication and breeding on farms for the purpose of obtaining eggs, meat, feathers and skin, giants have spread throughout the world, but in the wild they live only in Africa.

Ostrich habitat

The bird is found on the flat areas of the African continent. Previously, ostriches also lived in other territories, in particular in the Middle East, India, Iran, Arabia and Central Asia. As a result of very active hunting activities in most places, the giants were completely exterminated, including even the Middle Eastern species, which was considered numerous. As a result, the habitat shrank to Africa.

Experts today divide the species into several types. So, birds living in various places in Africa have certain differences in appearance.

1. Living in the eastern regions of the mainland - their distinctive feature is the red color of the neck and paws.
2. Found in Ethiopia, Somalia and northern Kenya, these birds have a distinctive bluish tint to their necks and legs.
3. They live in the southwestern regions of Africa - they have gray legs and a neck.

Such differences are usually overlooked by most people, and for them all giants are perceived the same; unless, of course, we put their photographs in a row, in which the specific features will be immediately clearly visible.

In Africa, birds are found almost everywhere... The main habitats for ostriches are reserves, where birds feel especially comfortable due to the lack of hunters. These, the largest birds in the world, do not live only in the north of the mainland and in the Sahara Desert, in which they simply cannot physically exist without food and water.

The ostrich habitat in which it feels especially comfortable is the savannah and desert areas, where you can find water and food.

Having learned the general about where the ostrich lives, it is necessary to consider in more detail the specific places of its habitat.

Savannah

The peculiarities of the bird's structure and the lack of the possibility of flying, which is compensated by a very fast run, force ostriches to choose plain territories overgrown with grass (savanna) for life and much less often - open woodland, which, as a rule, borders on savanna.

Ostriches breed on the plains of the savannah, where there is always enough food for parents and chicks. A healthy bird in such conditions is practically inaccessible for predators, since, noticing them from afar, the ostriches move very quickly to a safe place, leaving the pursuer no chance to catch up with them.

In the savannah, the ostrich lives in flocks, in which there are up to 50 individuals.

Most often, ostriches graze around herds of antelopes and zebras, as this provides them with additional protection. In such a situation, sneaking predators are noticed more quickly, and they will also prefer an antelope faster than a bird, which is almost impossible to catch.

It is quite comfortable for a person to live where ostriches live, and therefore it is not uncommon for local tribes, in addition to ungulates, to hunt birds, which provide a large amount of high-quality meat. Because of the attractive feathers, for a long time in nature, ostriches were exterminated by people. Feathered giants are not considered an endangered species in Africa today.

Desert

The desert is not the most livable place for feathered giants. They do not occur in the Sahara at all. However, birds enter the territory of semi-deserts in order to incubate eggs, as well as after rains, when enough fresh greenery and insects, as well as various lizards, appear in this area. The soil of the semi-desert is quite hard, and the bird can move well on it, gaining very high speed.

African ostrich (lat. Struthio camelus) is the largest bird in the world and the only representative of the ostrich order, ostrich family, ostrich genus. Belongs to the class of birds, subclass ratites.

International scientific name — Struthio camelus Linnaeus, 1758.

Conservation status - causing the least concern.

The biological name of a flightless bird literally translated from Greek sounds like "camel-sparrow" (Greek στρουθίο-κάμηλος). Such a well-aimed allegory arose due to the characteristic features of the ostrich: it has the same expressive eyes, framed by long eyelashes, like a camel, two-fingered limbs and a pectoral callus. The sparrow comparison is likely due to the small, poorly developed wings.

Ostrich - description, structure, characteristics, photo. What does an ostrich look like?

The African ostrich is a unique bird that cannot fly, does not have a keel and has only two toes, which is also an exception in the class of birds.

As the largest birds on the planet, the large African ostrich boasts a height of 2.7 meters and an impressive weight of up to 156 kg. However, the average weight of an ostrich is about 50 kg, and the males are somewhat larger than the females.

The ostrich skeleton is not pneumatic, except for the femur. The ends of the pubic bones have grown together and formed a closed pelvis, which is also uncharacteristic for other birds.

African ostriches are distinguished by a dense build, a very elongated neck and a small flattened head ending in an even, wide, flat beak, on which a soft growth of horny tissue is located.

The ostrich has large eyes, and the upper eyelid is dotted with long, fluffy eyelashes.

The outgrowth of the sternum, or keel, characteristic of representatives of the class of birds, is completely absent in ostriches, and the sternum itself is poorly developed.

On its surface is a bare area of \u200b\u200bthick skin - a special pectoral callus that acts as a support when the bird lies on the ground.

The forelimbs of the bird are represented by underdeveloped wings, on each of them there are two fingers, ending in sharp claws.

The hind legs of the ostrich are long, strong and muscular, with two toes, and only one of them has a peculiar hoof at the end, which serves as a support while running.

The plumage of the ostrich is loose and curly, relatively evenly distributed over the surface of the body. There are no feathers on the head, neck and legs: they are covered with soft, short down.

Ostrich feathers are distinguished by a primitive structure: their beards practically do not adhere to each other and do not form fans. Birds have very beautiful feathers and there are quite a lot of them: 16 primary feathers of the first order and from 20 to 23 of the second order, tail feathers can be from 50 to 60.

It is very easy to distinguish a male ostrich from a female. The plumage of adult males is black, and only the tail and wings are white.

Females are rather inconspicuous: their feathers are distinguished by a protective grayish-brown color, and their wings and tail feathers look dirty-white.

What does an ostrich eat?

The ostrich is an omnivorous bird, and although the diet of young individuals is mainly animal food, adult birds feed on all kinds of vegetation. Their diet consists of herbs, shoots and seeds of plants, flowers, ovaries, as well as fruits, including rather tough ones. Nevertheless, adults are far from vegetarians and, if possible, will not give up various insects, for example, locusts, as well as lizards, small rodents, and fell in the form of uneaten prey of large predators. Ostriches have nothing to chew their food, therefore, to improve digestion, they eat sand and small pebbles, and often various inedible objects: wood chips, pieces of plastic, metal, and even nails. Ostriches can also fast for several days.

Like camels, ostriches are able to do without water for a long time: they have enough liquid from the green mass of plants used. But, having gained access to water, the ostrich drinks a lot and willingly. Ostriches swim with the same great pleasure.

Where do ostriches live? Ostrich lifestyle

Ostriches live in Africa. Birds avoid tropical rainforests, preferring open grassy landscapes and semi-deserts to the north and south of equatorial woodlands.

The habitat of ostriches on the African continent. The places where various subspecies of the African ostrich live are highlighted in color. Photo Credit: Renato Caniatti

African ostriches live in family groups consisting of a mature male, 4-5 females and their offspring. Often the number of flocks reaches 20-30 individuals, and young ostriches in the south of the range live in groups of up to a hundred birds.

Often ostriches share pastures with whole herds of antelopes or zebras, while animals and birds treat each other quite peacefully and travel together across the African savannas. Possessing high growth and excellent vision, ostriches immediately notice the approach of predators and quickly run away, taking steps up to 3.5-4 m in length. At the same time, the speed of an ostrich can reach about 60-70 km / h. Long-legged runners are able to change direction abruptly without slowing down. And ostrich chicks, 30 days old, are practically not inferior to their parents and can run at speeds up to 50 km / h.

Types of ostriches, photos and names

During the Pleistocene and Pliocene epochs, there were several varieties of ostriches on earth that lived in Western and Central Asia, India and the southern regions of Eastern Europe. The chronicles of the ancient Greek historian Xenophon mentions these birds that inhabited the desert landscapes of the Middle East, west of the Euphrates River.

The uncontrolled extermination of birds led to a sharp decline in the population, and today the only species of ostriches includes 4 surviving subspecies that live in the vastness of Africa. Below is a description of the subspecies of the African ostrich.

• Ordinaryor north African ostrich ( Struthio camelus camelus)

It features a bald spot on the head. This is the largest subspecies, whose growth reaches 2.74 meters, while the ostrich weighs up to 156 kg. The limbs and neck of the ostrich are painted in intense red, and the eggshells are covered with fine beams of pores, forming a pattern that looks like a star. Previously, common ostriches lived on a large area covering the north and west of the African continent, from Ethiopia and Uganda in the south of the range to Algeria and Egypt in the north, covering West African countries, including Mauritania and Senegal. Today, the habitat of these birds has significantly decreased, and now the common ostrich lives only in a few African countries: Cameroon, Chad, the Central African Republic and Senegal.

Common ostrich (North African ostrich) male (Latin Struthio camelus camelus). Photo Credit: MathKnight

Common ostrich female (Latin Struthio camelus camelus). Photo by: שלומי שטרית

• Masai ostrich ( Struthio camelus massaicus)

Inhabitant of East Africa (south of Kenya, east of Tanzania, Ethiopia, south of Somalia). Its neck and limbs turn intense red during the breeding season. They are pink in color outside the breeding season.

Male Masai ostrich (Latin Struthio camelus massaicus). Photo Credit: Nicor

Masai ostrich female (Latin Struthio camelus massaicus). Photo by: Nevit Dilmen

• Somali ostrich ( Struthio camelus molybdophanes)

Based on analysis of mitochondrial DNA, it is sometimes considered as a separate species. Males have the same bald patches on their heads as representatives of the subspecies of common ostriches, but their neck and limbs are distinguished by a bluish-gray skin color, and females of the Somali ostrich have especially bright brown feathers. Somali ostriches live in the south of Ethiopia, northeastern Kenya and Somalia, and the local population calls them the beautiful word "gorayo". This subspecies of ostriches prefers to live in pairs or singly.

• Southern ostrich ( Struthio camelus australis)

It is also distinguished by the gray color of the plumage of the neck and limbs, and its range is dotted across the southwestern part of Africa. The ostrich is found in Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola and Botswana, and lives south of the Zambezi and Kunene rivers.

Male southern ostrich (Latin Struthio camelus australis). Photo Credit: Bernard DUPONT

Southern ostrich female (Latin Struthio camelus australis). Photo Credit: Yathin S Krishnappa

Breeding ostriches

Sexual maturation of ostriches occurs at the age of 2-4 years. During the mating period, each male vigilantly guards his personal territory within a radius of 2 to 15 square kilometers and ruthlessly drives out competitors. The neck and limbs of the leaking male become bright red, and to attract females, he falls to his knees, beats his wings intensively, bends his neck back and rubs the back of his head against his back. During the rivalry for the possession of the female, the males make very original trumpet and hissing sounds. Having drawn more air into the goiter, the male ostrich sharply pushes it into the esophagus, announcing the surroundings with something like a uterine roar, reminiscent of the roar of a lion.

Ostriches are polygamous, so the dominant male mates with all the females of the harem, but pairs exclusively with the dominant female for the subsequent incubation of offspring.

After mating, the future father personally digs a nest up to 30-60 cm deep in the sand, where all fertilized females periodically lay eggs, performing a similar manipulation every two days.

Among all the bird variety, the ostrich has the largest eggs, although, in relation to the body, they are quite small. On average, ostrich eggs are 15 to 21 cm long and about 13 cm wide. Egg weight reaches 1.5-2 kg, which is equivalent to 25-35 chicken eggs. The shell is approximately 0.6 mm thick, and its color is straw yellow, sometimes darker or, conversely, lighter.

Eggs laid by different females have different shell textures and are glossy and shiny, or matte and porous.

Ostrich egg versus chicken and quail egg. Photo Credit: Rainer Zenz

In the inhabitants of the northern part of the range, the joint clutch, as a rule, contains from 15 to 20 eggs, in the south - about 30, in the East African population, the number of eggs in the nest often reaches 50-60. After laying eggs, the dominant female of the ostrich forces the competitors to leave and rolls her eggs into the middle of the hole, determining them by the texture of the shell.

The incubation period lasts from 35 to 45 days, at night only the male incubates the clutch, the females take turns on duty during the day. This choice is not accidental: thanks to the protective coloration, the females remain unnoticed against the backdrop of the desert landscape. During the day, the masonry is sometimes left unattended and warmed by the heat of the sun. Despite the general concern of parents, many clutches die due to insufficient incubation. In populations where there are too many females, the number of eggs in a clutch may turn out to be such that the male cannot physically cover all the offspring with his body.

An hour before the birth of the ostrich chick begins to open the shell of the egg, rests with its spread legs on its sharp and blunt ends and methodically hollows with its beak at one point until a small hole is formed. Thus, the chick makes several holes, and then beats it with the back of the head with force, so ostriches are often born with significant bruises that tend to pass quickly. When the last chick was born, an adult ostrich mercilessly destroys non-viable eggs lying on the edge, and immediately flies gather for a feast, serving as food for the chicks.

Newborn ostriches are sighted, well developed, their bodies are covered with light down, and their weight is about 1.2 kg. The hatched chicks move well and leave the nest the next day, going with their parent in search of food. For the first two months, ostriches are covered with black and yellow bristles, the crown has a brick color, and the neck is off-white with dark longitudinal stripes.

Only over time do they form real feathers, and the outfit of all chicks becomes similar in color to the plumage of females. Male ostriches acquire the black color characteristic of adults only in the second year of life.

Taken from the site: www.reddit.com

Ostriches are very attached to each other and if two groups of chicks meet, they can no longer be separated, due to which flocks of ostriches of different ages are often found in the savannas of Africa.

Being polygamous birds, the male and the female start a fight with each other, and the stronger parent gets further care of the brood.

Ostrich eggs are hunted by jackals, hyenas and scavengers. For example, a vulture grabs a large stone with its beak and throws it on top of an egg several times until it cracks. Chicks can also be attacked by lions, cheetahs, leopards or hyenas.

It is in vain to think that ostriches are shy birds: in fact, they are quite aggressive and able to stand up for themselves and their offspring. An angry ostrich, without hesitation, will attack a person who has encroached on its territory, and even seasoned predators are afraid of adult birds. Cases have been recorded when a defending ostrich mortally wounded an adult lion with one powerful kick.

Ostrich lifespan

African ostriches live long and under favorable conditions can live for about 75 years.

There are several types of birds that are very similar to the ostrich. But they do not belong to the ostrich family and the ostrich genus. Below is a brief description of them.

Darwin's nandu,he is small rheaor long-billed rhea ( Rhea pennata)

A large flightless bird from the rhea order, the rhea family, the rhea genus. The plumage of the bird is gray or grayish-brown; there are white spots on the back. Height at the back is approximately 90 cm, weight varies between 15-25 kg. The Darwin Nandu is found in southern Argentina, including Patagonia and the southern Andes, Bolivia, Argentina and the island of Tierra del Fuego.

Great rhea, common rheahe is northern rhea ( Rhea americana)

Flightless bird from the order of the rhea, the rhea family, the rhea genus. A typical representative of South America. Lives in Argentina and Bolivia, in Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. The height of the great rhea to the level of the crown reaches 127-140 cm, weight varies from 20 to 25 kilograms or more. The color of the feathers is brown-gray, often among birds there are albino individuals with white plumage and bright blue eyes.

Cassowary ( Casuarius) - a large bird, unable to fly. It belongs to the cassowary order, the cassowary family, and the cassowary genus. Scientists have identified three types of cassowaries. Individuals reach 150 cm in height and weigh up to 80 kg.

A distinctive feature of the bird is a kind of outgrowth-helmet on the head. The head and neck of the bird are usually fledgling, the color of the feathers on the body is black, two species have bright “earrings” of different colors in the neck area. Cassowaries live in the thickets of the tropics of New Guinea, in the northeast of Australia, they are found on the islands of Aru, Muruk, Salavati, Yapen.

Emu ( Dromaius novaehollandiae)

A large flightless bird from the order of the cassowary, the emu family, the emu genus. It reaches a height of 150-170 cm, while weighing from 45 to 55 kg. The color of the feathers is gray-brown. Emu is widely distributed almost throughout Australia.

African ostrich meat is a rather healthy product, which, according to some nutritionists, has overtaken even the popular turkey in terms of the minimum cholesterol content with the maximum amount of protein. Ostrich meat has a dark red color, tastes a bit like veal, cooks very quickly, but with prolonged heat treatment it can lose its tenderness and juiciness. Ostrich meat is highly valued in the countries of Asia and Europe, becoming a completely familiar restaurant dish among connoisseurs of delicious food with exotic notes. Ostrich meat is used to prepare delicious steaks, roasts, cold appetizers, cutlets, it is boiled, stewed and baked. Lean African ostrich meat contains manganese, potassium and iron, it is rich in phosphorus, B vitamins and nicotinic acid.

Do ostriches hide their heads in the sand?

There is a misconception that ostriches hide their heads in the sand, but they don't do anything like that. The appearance of this myth was facilitated by the manner of birds standing with their heads bowed to the ground and swallowing small stones that aid digestion.

Also, an ostrich can drop its head on the sand after a long run. The bird has no strength left, and thus it rests.

Taken from the site: theiwrc.org

• Ostrich feathers are especially beautiful and are traditionally used to make fans, fans, and headdresses. The popularity of the ostrich feather led to the fact that if in the 19th century only a ton of raw materials per year was exported from Africa, then at the beginning of the 20th century this figure was already 370 tons.
• In the middle of the 19th century, birds began to be kept in farms, and if this had not happened, the ostrich population might not have survived to this day. Today, more than 50 states have farms for breeding ostriches, including countries with cool climatic conditions, in particular Sweden. In addition to preserving the species, the main goal of breeding ostriches is to obtain expensive skin, feathers and tasty meat that resembles beef.
• Feathers of ostriches that have reached the age of 2-3 years are not pulled out, but carefully cut off from the skin itself, repeating the procedure 2 times a year.
• Since ancient times, people have used ostriches as a means of transportation: the birds were harnessed to a harness, and also ridden on horseback.
• An ostrich fleeing from a chase often performs this trick: the bird falls on the sand and stretches its neck, which gives the pursuers the impression that the ostrich has suddenly disappeared. But when they approach the hidden bird, the rested ostrich jumps up in the blink of an eye and quickly disappears into the distance.
• An interesting feature of ostriches is to swallow completely inedible things. A number of interesting objects were found in the stomach of one ostrich: 3.5 kg of sand, rags, tow, 3 pieces of iron, 9 coins, a copper hinge, 2 iron keys and even lead bullets.
• You can ride an ostrich. A bird can easily carry an adult on itself.