#Ostrich predators full#

massaicus, has apparently been prevented to occur on a significant scale by ecological separation, the Somali ostrich preferring bushland where it browses middle-height vegetation for food while the Masai ostrich is, like the other subspecies, a grazing bird of the open savanna and miombo habitat (Freitag & Robinson, 1993). Subsequently, hybridization with the subspecies that evolved southwestwards of its range, S. mtDNA haplotype comparisons suggest that it diverged from the other ostriches not quite 4 mya due to formation of the Great Rift Valley.

#Ostrich predators full#

massaicus in northeastern Kenya.Īnalyses indicate that the Somali ostrich may be better considered a full species. During the mating season, the male's neck and thighs turn blue. molybdophanes in Somalia, Ethiopia, and northern Kenya, is called the Somali ostrich. syriacus in the Middle East, sometimes called the Arabian ostrich or Middle Eastern ostrich, was a subspecies formerly very common in the Arabian Peninsula, Syria, and Iraq it became extinct around 1966. Their range is from Ethiopia and Kenya in the east to Senegal in the west, and from eastern Mauritania in the north to southern Morocco in the south. During the mating season, the male's neck and thighs turn pink-orange. massaicus in East Africa, sometimes called the Masai ostrich. camelus in North Africa, sometimes called the North African ostrich or red-necked ostrich. Ostriches occur naturally in the savannas and the Sahel of Africa, both north and south of the equatorial forest zone. The present-day distribution of ostriches. Presently, molecular evidence is equivocal while paleobiogeographical and paleontological considerations are slightly in favour of the multi-order arrangement. However, the classification of the ratites as a single order has always being questioned, with the alternative classification restricting the Struthioniformes to the ostrich lineage and elevating the other groups to order status also. Other members of this group include rheas, emus, cassowaries and the largest bird ever, the now-extinct Aepyornis. The ostrich belong to the Struthioniformes order ( ratites). At one year, ostriches weigh around 45 kg (100 pounds). During the first year of life, chicks grow about 25 cm (10 inches) per month. This is an adaptation unique to ostriches that appears to aid in running.Īt sexual maturity (two to four years old), male ostriches can be between 1.8 m and 2.7 m (6 feet and 9 feet) in height, while female ostriches range from 1.7 m to 2 m (5.5 ft to 6.5 ft). The bird stands on two toes, with the bigger one resembling a hoof. The strong legs of the ostrich lack feathers. There are claws on two of the wings' fingers. The feathers are soft and serve as insulation, and are quite different from the stiff airfoil feathers of flying birds. The small vestigial wings are used by males in mating displays. Females and young males are grayish-brown, with a bit of white. The feathers of adult males are mostly black, with some white on the wings and tail. Ostriches usually weigh from 90 to 130 kg (200 to 285 pounds), although some male ostriches have been recorded with weights of up to 155 kg (340 pounds). The scientific name for the ostrich is from the Greek for ' camel sparrow' in allusion to their long necks. Ostriches are the largest living species of bird and are farmed in many areas all over the world. They are distinct in their appearance, with a long neck and legs and the ability to run at speeds of about 65 km/h (40 mph). It is the only living species of its family, Struthionidae, and its genus, Struthio.

The ostrich ( Struthio camelus) is a flightless bird native to Africa.