Ostriches
The ostrich is the largest living bird, it lays the largest egg of any living creature, and it is the fastest bipedal animal in existence. An ostrich fleeing from a predator can reach up to 70 kilometres per hour.
Today, there are five ostrich species: the Nandu in South America, the Emu in Australia, the Kiwi in New Zealand, the Ostrich in Africa and the Cassowary in New Guinea.
It is not true that the ostrich hides its head in the sand. This misconception may have arisen because it can be difficult to see the head of a grazing ostrich from a distance.
Ostriches usually stay together in groups consisting of one male and up to 15 females. Among these females, the male has his first lady, who chooses a recess in the territory that the male has made in advance. Here she lays her eggs, after which the other females in the group join her. Incubation is done by the male and his favourite female. The work is divided so that the male incubates at night and the female incubates during the day. An ostrich egg weighs around 1500 grams, which is equivalent to about 20 chicken eggs.
The ostrich also has very good eyesight and has the largest eye of all land animals.
- Distribution: In open savannah areas in East and Southern Africa. There are also wild ostriches in Australia, descended from ostriches that have been kept in captivity
- Population: The ostrich used to be common in large parts of Africa. Today, its numbers have declined sharply, mainly due to the fact that it has been hunted by humans. The ostrich is now endangered.
- Weight: Up to 135kg
- Height: Approx. 2.5 metres
- Body length: Up to 2.75 metres
- Sexual maturity: From 3-4 years of age. Females can reach sexual maturity as early as 2 years old
- Incubation period: Approximately 42 days
- Number of eggs: 8-10 eggs per female. An ostrich nest can contain up to 60 eggs laid by different females. Each egg weighs approximately 1500 grams
- Food: Seeds, grass, leaves and flowers, insects and lizards.
- Lifespan: 20-30 years