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Australia’s largest living flightless bird is the Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), second to theostrich (which is the largest bird in the world). The emu are up to 1.9 metres in height and can weigh ukp to 45 kg and more. The emu come is in the order as the Struthioniformes, that includes another popular Australian bird the cassowary.
Found across much of mainland Australia (although they are rare to see in heavily populated areas), they are easily recognised. The adult emus are covered in feathers that are shades of grey to brown and white. The mass of feathers on the body of the emu, gives the bird a shaggy look. The neck and head of the emu have less feathers, with areas near the face having only a slight short covering, that have a bluish-black, brown and/or white colour. They have greatly reduced wings, three forward-facing toes, and a long neck and legs. The emus can travel great distances, and have been recorded sprinting at 50 km per hour.
More information in our section:
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Subphylum: Vertebrata
- Informal: Gnathostomata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Struthioniformes
- Suborder: Casuari
- Family: Casuariidae
- Subfamily: Dromaiinae
- Genus: Dromaius
- Species: Dromaius novaehollandiae
- Subspecies:
- Dromaius novaehollandiae baudinianus
- Dromaius novaehollandiae diemenensis
- Dromaius novaehollandiae diemenianus (Jennings, 1827)
- Dromaius novaehollandiae novaehollandiae (Latham, 1790)
Footnote & References
- Dromaius novaehollandiae (Latham, 1790), Emu, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Dromaius novaehollandiae
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