CASUARIIFORMES Family: Dromiceiidae Genus: Dromiceius : novalhollandiae

Range: Found throughout country except northeastern rain forest Habitat: Semi-arid, grass covered plains Niche: Terrestrial, omnivorous, diurnal Wild diet: Seeds, fruits, grass and insects (grass hoppers and caterpillars). Zoo diet: diet (commercially prepared) bread & cabbage and feline diet (fortified meat) Life Span: (Wild) 10-20 yrs (Captivity) 40 yrs. Sexual dimorphism: Female slightly larger and heavier than male Location in SF Zoo: Australian Walkabout

APPEARANCE & PHYSICAL ADAPTATIONS:

The Emu is the second largest living in the world by height. It has a very bulky body with earth brown and grey . Plumage is coarse, loose and drooping. The are soft and without barbs; there are two feathers coming from the central shaft. Feathers are sparse on the neck and the skin of the head and neck is blue. The shafts and tips are generally black and absorb energy from the sun; the loosely packed inner plumage insulates the skin, thus allowing to be active during the heat of the Weight: c.120 lbs day. Wings are rudimentary without long wire-like quills and are tipped Height: 5 – 6.6’ with a small claw concealed in the plumage of the body; wings are held out as stabilizers when emus run. There are no visible tail feathers.

The bill is approximately five inches, broad and compressed. Unlike the ostrich, the emu has air- filled leg bones and the feet have three toes that bear strong claws; the central toe is longest and is used in defense. The underside of the foot has a thick pad for cushioning during locomotion. Emu eyes are quite large and have a nictitating membrane to protect against dust and moisture loss. Large pebbles are swallowed to assist the gizzard to grind up food; they do not have a crop.

STATUS & CONSERVATION

Emus are listed as of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List as they are found in abundant numbers over most habitat areas in . Emus have been hunted for thousands of years by aboriginal people and were hunted by the early European settlers. Hunting peaked in the 1930’s and bounties were common. Wild emus now have a protected status and only aboriginal people are allowed to hunt them. Emus have probably benefited from human activities in central Australia. The establishment of cattle and sheep watering sites now provides permanent water where none existed before. Yet they are harmful to agriculture, competing with grazing cattle and destroying fencing with its powerful body and legs. Emus are disliked by farmers and cattlemen. COMMUNICATION AND OTHER BEHAVIOR

Emus have a deep, booming call that seems to be amplified in a tracheal chamber connected to the windpipe. Males have a guttural call while the female’s is more booming.

Emu’s rich diet enables it to grow fast and reproduce rapidly. Emus are nomadic because such rich foods are not always available in the same place throughout the year. Emus have a large fat pad on their backs, which are used to store water and nutrition when both might be sparse. This fat pad also serves as extra insulation against temperature extremes. Emus are only forced to stay in one place when the male is sitting on . During incubation the male does not eat, drink or defecate so he is independent of the state of the local food supply.

Emus live in pairs but also lead solitary lives or travel in large flocks when seeking food.

COURTSHIP AND YOUNG

Emus pair in December and January, two defending a territory of about 30 sq km (11.7 sq miles. The male has a retractable sex organ. The eggs, five inches in length, dark green and granulated are laid in a scrape in the ground, usually near a shrub. It is covered with grass, leaves and sticks. The male takes charge of the nest, brooding the eggs for the next 8 weeks, surviving on stored body fat and morning dew, losing about 1/3 of his body weight. Female may either remain and defend her mate or go off and produce more eggs with other males. Males become aggressive when the chicks hatch and remains with them for approximately five to seven months. Precocial nestlings have white and brown striped plumage.

Incubation: 52 - 60 days Sexual Maturity: 1.5 - 2 years # of eggs: 8-11 (up to 20 dark green granulated eggs) Weight at birth:

MISCELLANEOUS

The emu along with the red kangaroo are part of Australia’s Coat of Arms and signify Australia’s aspiration and intent as a nation to always move forwards.

The Emu can run at speeds between 30 - 40 mph and run with a bouncy swaying motion. Emus are the only bird with gastrocnemius muscles in the back of the lower leg (the same as human calf muscles), providing power to deliver deadly forward kicks.

Emus are good swimmers.

Sources: Last Revision: 11/95

(49, 50, 51, 52, 53 & 65)