Class: Aves
Order: Struthioniformes
Family: Struthionida
Species: Struthio camelus
Subspecies: Struthio camelus camelus
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Distribution:
Ostriches are native to Africa and Midde East.
Habitat:
They inhabit savannas and the Sahel of Africa. |
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Description:
Male Ostrich, with its distinctive black with white wings and tail plumage, is up to 3m tall and weighs up to 150 kg "the largest living bird". The female has grey brownish feathers. The foot has toes. Mass: 90 to 130 kg.
Life span: They can live for 30-70 years in captivity.
Diet:
Mainly feed on seeds and other plant matter, occasionally they also eat insects such as locusts. They can survive without water for long periods of time.
An ostrich in captivity requires 3.5 kg of food per day
Behavior:
Ostriches live in flocks of 5 to 50, and they are normally found in the company of grazing animals like antelope and zebras. Smaller, looser groups of 2-5 members are formed outside of the breeding season. Another characteristic of ostriches is that they are very fond of water. They frequently take baths when given the opportunity. Sometimes, in order to escape detection, ostriches may lie on the ground with their necks outstretched. This peculiar behavior probably gave rise to the myth that ostriches bury their heads in the ground.
Reproduction:
Ostriches become sexually mature when they are 2 to 4 years old; females mature about six months earlier than males. Mating season is beginning in March or April and ending sometime before September. Females will lay their fertilized eggs in a single communal nest, a simple pit, 30 to 60 cm (12-24 in) deep, scraped in the ground by the male. Ostrich eggs are the largest of all eggs, though they are actually the smallest eggs relative to the size of the bird. Nest may contain 15 to 60 eggs, which are, on average, 15 cm (6 in) long, 13 cm (5 in) wide, and weigh 1.4 kg (3 lb). They are glossy and cream in color, with thick shells marked by small pits. Eggs are incubated by the females by day and by the male by night. This uses the coloration of the two sexes to escape detection of the nest, as the drab female blends in with the sand, while the black male is nearly undetectable in the night. Incubation period is 35 to 45 days. Typically, male will defend the hatchlings, and teach them how and on what to feed.
Ostriches were almost wiped out in the 18th century due to hunting for feathers. By the middle of the 19th century, the practice of farming ostriches began to spread. This enabled ostriches to be domesticated and plucked, instead of being hunted and killed. Currently, the demand for ostrich feathers has lessened greatly, and ostriches seem to have a secure population.
Conservation Status:
IUCN Red List: Least Concern.
References: http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/141085/0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostrich