Conservapedia

Difference between revisions of "Ostrich"

(created article)
 
(clean up)
 
(10 intermediate revisions by 8 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
The '''Ostrich''' is the largest and heaviest living [[bird]]. It is a flightless bird, which can never take to the skies, instead establishing itself for running. Its long, strong and efficient legs can cover large distances without much effort, and its feet have only two [[toe]]s for larger speed. Ostriches can burst into short impacts up to 43 miles per hour sprinting, and they know a constant speed of 31 miles per hour maintained. A straight one of an Ostrich can be 10 to 16 feet longer than many others. If danger threatens, ostriches can escape quite easily, by running away. They can defend themselves also: they have a 4-inch grip talon on each foot, and their efficient impact is enough to kill a lion. Though ostriches cannot fly, they do possess wings. Ostriches hold their wings out to adjust and help them run, particularly when suddenly changing direction. Their main use, although, God provides, is for communication while hopping around. To assert itself, the ostrich holds its head up straight and raises its wings and end feathers. In subordination, an ostrich will sink its head, with its wings and end feathers down. During the mating season, the black-and-white male uses his drastic color, in order to attract the light brown female. It sinks slowly to soil, nearly, bending its neck, and begins making a wavelike movement and shaking, starting with first one wing, then the other with its end feathers. The male then rises and moves toward the female, holding out its wings to continue impressing her. If she approves, mating commences.  
+
{{Taxonomy
 +
|image=ostrich.jpg
 +
|caption=
 +
|domain=Eukaryota
 +
|kingdom=Animalia
 +
|subkingdom=Bilateria
 +
|branch=Deuterostomia
 +
|superphylum=
 +
|phylum=Chordata
 +
|subphylum=Vertebrata
 +
|infraphylum=Gnathostomata
 +
|microphylum=
 +
|superdivision=
 +
|division=
 +
|subdivision=
 +
|superclass=Tetrapoda
 +
|class=Aves
 +
|subclass=
 +
|infraclass=
 +
|superorder=
 +
|order=Struthioniformes
 +
|suborder=
 +
|infraorder=
 +
|superfamily=
 +
|family=Struthionidae
 +
|subfamily=
 +
|supertribe=
 +
|tribe=
 +
|subtribe=
 +
|genera=
 +
|genus=Struthio
 +
|subgenus=
 +
|species=S. camelus
 +
|binomialname=
 +
|sub=
 +
|alt=
 +
|regionimg=
 +
|pop=
 +
|conservation=Least concern<ref>http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/45020636/0</ref>
 +
}}
 +
The '''ostrich''' (''Struthio camelus'') is a [[ratite]] flightless bird, the sole species of the family Struthionidae, and the largest living bird.
  
−
The feathers of the ostrich are different than many other birds. They are soft, smooth, and loose. Because they do not all fold in the same direction, ostriches have a "shaggy" appearance. Their feathers may become soaked in the rain, and this is fine since ostriches have a special gland which produces oils for the feathers' resistance to rain. Ostriches may live in large herds, to help with their defense from predators.  With their tall height and sharp sight they can see long distances. Thus, in a group, one is likely to see danger coming. Ostriches sometimes move in large groups of 100 or more, but most groups are smaller, normally approximately 10 birds or a straight male and female pair. The groups have a pecking order, with a dominating male, who patrols and defends an area and a dominating female, called the "main hen," who unites other females. Lonely males may come and go during the mating season. While nesting, the alpha hen while mate with the territorial male, and they divide the tasks of sitting on the eggs to the rest of the ostriches. The other females may mate with the same male or other males, but will keep their eggs in the same nest as the alpha couple. The main hen will lay her eggs in the center of the nest, in order to guarantee that they have the best probability of surviving, but many of other eggs will fit in the nest. Normally the main hen will sit on the nest during the day, then the male takes over and broods during the night. Some days after the eggs have hatched, they leave the nest, and begin scratching in the soil under the supervision of their parents. The adults will protect them under their wings, and protect them against sun and rain, and against [[carnivore]]s. Contrary to popular belief, ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand. If an ostrich is in danger but cannot run away, it may bring its head close to the ground.  From a distance it appears that the ostrich has buried its head in the sand, because only the body is visible.  
+
==Description==
 +
The ostrich is extremely large; males stand roughly 8 feet tall and weigh close to 350 pounds. Females are slightly smaller, weighing in at 240 pounds while standing just over 6 feet tall. Legs are massive and bare of feathers, and end in two-toed feet.  Head and neck are sparsely covered with down and small, bristle-like feathers. Plumage on the body is black on males, brown on females, with the exception of white tail feathers and wingtips.
  
−
Ostriches eat mostly plants, particularly roots, grass and seeds, but they also munch on [[insect]]s such as [[grasshopper]]s and small animals such as [[lizard]]s. When an ostrich eats, food is collected in the top of the throat, until there is a large enough lump to push down the chunk of food. Ostriches eat many things which other animals cannot digest. They have remarkably durable 46 foot long intestines used to absorb as many nutrients as possible. These large birds will eat sand, bark and small stones, which help to grind up food in their muscular [[stomach]]es. Ostriches do not need to drink water since they receive, which they need primarily from plants, although they will drink, if they come to a river. They have also a special way of raising their underwings on the hot days, in order to reduce loss of [[water]].
+
===Subspecies===
 +
*''Struthio camelus australis''; southern Africa.
 +
*''Struthio camelus camelus''; sahel area of North Africa and the Sudan.
 +
*''Struthio camelus massaicus''; southern Kenya, eastern Tanzania.
 +
*''Struthio camelus molybdophanes''; horn of Africa to northern Kenya.
 +
*''Struthio camelus syriacus''; southwest Asia (Syrian and Arabian deserts; extinct 1966).
 +
 
 +
Some authorities have determined that ''S. molybdophanes'' should be split from ''S. camelus'' as a distinct species, based on coloration and genetic differences.
 +
 
 +
==Threats==
 +
Man posted the most serious threat to ostriches, with the millinery industry during the 19th century nearly driving the birds to extinction due to the demand for feathers in ladies fashions. Proper management - as well as ostrich farming - have allowed the wild birds to flourish to the point where they are not considered threatened.  Livestock grazing however, may affect the birds' habitats and restrict their range,<ref>http://www.arkive.org/ostrich/struthio-camelus/</ref> while the subspecies ''S. c. molybdophanes'' has been listed as "vulnerable" by the ICUN, in part due to the need for sustenance and cash as a result of the political and religious unrest in the horn of Africa.<ref>http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22732795/0</ref>  Another subspecies, ''S. c. syriacus'', became extinct through over-hunting.
 +
 
 +
==References==
 +
{{Reflist}}
 +
 
 +
==See also==
 +
[[Essay:Ostrich syndrome|Ostrich syndrome]]
 +
 
 +
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Flightless Birds]][[Category:Ratites]]
 +
[[Category:Animals]]
 +
[[Category:Biblical Animals]]

Latest revision as of 23:10, June 24, 2016

The ostrich (Struthio camelus) is a ratite flightless bird, the sole species of the family Struthionidae, and the largest living bird.

Ostrich
Ostrich.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom Information
Domain Eukaryota
Kingdom Animalia
Subkingdom Bilateria
Branch Deuterostomia
Phylum Information
Phylum Chordata
Sub-phylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Information
Superclass Tetrapoda
Class Aves
Order Information
Order Struthioniformes
Family Information
Family Struthionidae
Genus Information
Genus Struthio
Species Information
Species S. camelus
Population statistics
Conservation status Least concern[1]

Description

The ostrich is extremely large; males stand roughly 8 feet tall and weigh close to 350 pounds. Females are slightly smaller, weighing in at 240 pounds while standing just over 6 feet tall. Legs are massive and bare of feathers, and end in two-toed feet. Head and neck are sparsely covered with down and small, bristle-like feathers. Plumage on the body is black on males, brown on females, with the exception of white tail feathers and wingtips.

Subspecies

  • Struthio camelus australis; southern Africa.
  • Struthio camelus camelus; sahel area of North Africa and the Sudan.
  • Struthio camelus massaicus; southern Kenya, eastern Tanzania.
  • Struthio camelus molybdophanes; horn of Africa to northern Kenya.
  • Struthio camelus syriacus; southwest Asia (Syrian and Arabian deserts; extinct 1966).

Some authorities have determined that S. molybdophanes should be split from S. camelus as a distinct species, based on coloration and genetic differences.

Threats

Man posted the most serious threat to ostriches, with the millinery industry during the 19th century nearly driving the birds to extinction due to the demand for feathers in ladies fashions. Proper management - as well as ostrich farming - have allowed the wild birds to flourish to the point where they are not considered threatened. Livestock grazing however, may affect the birds' habitats and restrict their range,[2] while the subspecies S. c. molybdophanes has been listed as "vulnerable" by the ICUN, in part due to the need for sustenance and cash as a result of the political and religious unrest in the horn of Africa.[3] Another subspecies, S. c. syriacus, became extinct through over-hunting.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/45020636/0
  2. ↑ http://www.arkive.org/ostrich/struthio-camelus/
  3. ↑ http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22732795/0

See also

Ostrich syndrome

Retrieved from "https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Ostrich&oldid=1233043"