Background Information

Organisms within the order Struthioniformes are mostly large, flightless birds, commonly referred to as ratites. Such animals include:

• Ostrich
  • Struthio camelus camelus (North African ostrich)
  • Struthio camelus australis (Southern ostrich)
  • Struthio camelus massaicus (Masai ostrich)
  • Struthio camelus syriacus (Arabian ostrich)
• Emu
  • Dromaius novaehollandiae diemenensis (Tasmanian emu)
  • Dromaius novaehollandiae minor (King Island emu, extinct)
  • Dromaius novaehollandiae woodwardi (Southern emu)
•  Kiwi
  • Apteryx haastii (Great spotted kiwi)
  • Apteryx owenii (Little spotted kiwi)
  • Apteryx rowi (Okarito brown kiwi)
  • Apteryx australis (Southern brown kiwi)
  • Apteryx mantelli (North Island brown kiwi)
• Rheas
  • Rhea pennata (Darwin’s rhea/lesser rhea)
  • Rhea americana (Greater rhea)
•  Cassowary
  • Casuarius casuarius (Southern cassowary)
  • Casuarius unappendiculatus (Northern cassowary)
  • Casuarius bennetti (Dwarf cassowary)
  • Casuarius lydekkeri (Pygmy cassowary)

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Major Characteristics

External

Organisms within the order Struthioniformes are known to have strong and long legs that enable them to move swiftly. They are unable to use their wings to fly due to the absence of a keel, which is the part of the breastbone where the wing muscles are attached. Over time, the bone structure of their wings have simplified and their tails have  regressed into small, decorative plumes.

Internal

Ratites lacks preen glands that most other birds contain as a result of not having feather vanes. These glands produce oil to help adhere the feathers’ structure and keep them waterproof.

Behavioral

Diet

Ratites are omnivores that use their beaks to eat leaves and grass or catch bugs and small animals in trees. When they are young, ratites tend to feed on plants until they learn to catch their own food. As ratites further develop into adults, they start to eat anything they catch or find.

Reproduction

To attract suitable mates, ratites will often use their wings in courtship displays to impress one another. They have communal nests on the ground where they share incubation with others. The males are in charge of incubating the eggs and keeping them warm. Ratite chicks can walk almost immediately after they hatch out of their egg.

Habitat

Struthioniformes are mostly located in Africa, Australia, South America, New Zealand, and New Guinea. Dry grasslands are the most common environment they are found in, but others, such as cassowaries, prefer to inhabit rain forests.