What seems like a cgi scene lifted from Jurassic Park is in fact a
bird called the Cassowary. The cassowary is a large, flightless bird
most closely related to the emu. Although the emu is taller, the
cassowary is the heaviest bird in Australia and the second heaviest in
the world after its cousin, the ostrich.
Let's Have A Look At These Big Guys. Enjoy! :)
It is covered in dense, two-quilled black feathers that, from a distance,
look like hair. These feathers are not designed for flight but for
protection in the bird's rain forest habitat, keeping them dry and safe
from the sharp thorns found on many rain forest plants. Long, strong bare
quills hang from the bird's tiny wings.
Cassowaries are generally jet black as adults, but the fabulous skin colors
on their face and neck vary according to species and location. Female
cassowaries are larger than the males and are even more brightly colored.
All three cassowary species have a casque, also called a helmet, that starts
to develop on top of their head at one to two years of age. The casque is
made of a sponge-like material and covered with a thick layer of keratin,
the same thing our fingernails are made of. Although it is quite sturdy,
the casque can be squeezed in the middle fairly easily.
No one knows for certain why cassowaries have a casque. It could reveal their
age or dominance, or be used as a sort of helmet or shock absorber that protects
the head as it pushes through the rain forest underbrush.
They live 12 to 19 years in the wild, or up to 40 years in zoos. The largest
is the southern cassowary, growing 4 to 5.6 feet (1.2 to 1.7 meters) tall, with
the females being usually larger than males. These big birds can weigh up to 128
pounds.
Not only is this the world's deadliest bird, but it's also one of the most
dangerous things you can bump into in Australia period, which is saying a
lot when 90% of the wildlife there is capable of destroying you. This emu/ostrich
from hell takes protecting it's territory very, VERY seriously, and will
brutally murder anything perceived as a threat with it's razor-sharp claws.
There are many records of natives being seriously injured or killed by this,
finely-tuned, machine of death.
Aww, yes, Australia, the only place in the world where you can get
disemboweled by big angry birds!
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