About ostriches

Ostrich is a large flightless bird native to Africa which is in the ratite family. Ostrich is the only and largest living members and lays the largest eggs of any living bird. Extinct elephant birds of Madagascar and the giant Moa of New Zealand laid larger eggs. It is distinctive in its appearance, with a ling neck and legs, and can run at up to about 70 km/h, the fastest land speed of any bird. The ostrich diet consists mainly of plant matter, though it also eats invertebrates. It lives in nomadic groups of 5 to 50 birds. When threatened, the ostrich will either hide itself by lying flat against the ground or run away. If cornered, it can attack with a kick of its powerful legs.

The ostrich is farmed around the word, particularly for its feathers, which are decorative and are also used as in garments and decorative accessories. Its skin is used for leather products and its meat is marketed commercially.

The feathers of adult males are black, with white primaries and a white tail. Females are brown. The head and neck of both male and female ostriches is nearly bare. Ostriches are often travel with other grazing mammals, such as zebras, or antelopes.

Description

Ostriches usually weigh from 63 to 145 kilograms. Ostrich of the East African race averaged 115 kg in males and 100 kg in females. Exceptional male ostriches can weigh up 156.8 kg. At sexual maturity, (two to four years) male ostriches can be from 2.1 – 2.8 m in height, while female ostriches range from 1.7 – 2.0 m tall.

Ostriches are fawn in color with dark brown spots. In the first year of life, chicks grow at about 25 cm per month and ostriches weigh approximately 45 kg. Their lifespan is up to 40 to 45 years. Feathers of adult males are mostly black with white primaries and a white tail. However, the tail of one subspecies is buff. Females and young males are grayish-brown and white. The skin of the female’s neck and thighs is pinkish gray, while the male’s is blue, gray or pink dependent of subspecies.

Unlike whit is demonstrated in the media, ostriches do not dig= pitch their head when scared.

Taxonomy:

Five living subspecies are recognized:

-South African ostriches: or black-necked ostrich in South Africa which is found south of the rivers Zambezi and Cunene.

-North African Ostriches: or red-necked ostrich was the most widespread subspecies ranging from Ethiopia, Sudan in the East to Senegal Mauritania in the west, north to Egypt and Morocco, respectively. This subspecies is the largest and the fastest one at 2.74 m in height, and up to 154 Kg in weight. The neck is pinkish-red, the plumage of males is black and white, and the plumage of females is grey.

-Masai ostrich: in East Africa ostriches which has small feathers on its head and its neck and thigh are pink. Its range is essentially limited to southern Kenya and Ethiopia, and parts of southern Somalia.

-Arabian ostrich: was formerly very common in the Arabian Peninsula, Syria, and Iraq and it became extinct around 1966.

-Somali ostriches: found in northeastern Kenya, southern Ethiopia, and Somali. Their neck and thighs are colorless. It generally lives in pairs or alone, rather than in flocks. Its range overlaps with S.C. massaicus in northeastern Kenya.

Ostrich products:

Ostrich meat low in cholesterol but rich in iron

Ostrich leather is the strongest with elegance and beauty

Ostrich oil, both edible and medicinal, rich in fatty acids W6 and W9

Ostrich egg are edible and they are used as empty shell for handicrafts (engraving, painting, ,,,)

Ostrich feather that has been considered unique in terms of beauty, elegance, and billowy.

Intestine of the ostrich has been largely used to make surgical suture for internal organs surgery.