Jump to content

Emu: Difference between revisions

Emu (edit)

Revision as of 14:33, 23 November 2023

3,996 bytes added ,  23 November 2023
Add more details
("Emu" is a topic that has a high search volume, but this was not present on your platform. Now, you will also be in the search bar. I wrote it (short) and will add more if this gets approved.)
 
(Add more details)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{AFC submission/draft}}
{{AFC submission/draft}}
<!-- EDIT BELOW THIS LINE -->
<!-- EDIT BELOW THIS LINE -->
After the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostrich|Ostrich]], Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is the tallest bird on Earth. They are found in Australia, and the fact is that they are the only member of the genus Dromaius living in that specific area. In Australia, an emu is a significant place [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_symbols_of_Australia|cultural icon of Australia]]. Its image is present on the coat of arms and different kinds of coins. They are among the long-necked animals and cannot fly due to soft feathers.
{{Taxobox
Against bird's nature, they can run at high speeds (30 mph). Their height can touch 2 meters matric (6 feet+), which proves them the tallest [[birdshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird|birds]] (rather than Ostrich). In diet, they can be opportunistic creatures and eat many insects and plants. They only drink water occasionally but try to drink as much as possible when they can. They also can survive for long times without eating and drinking.
| name = Emu
Their [[matinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mating|mating]] season starts in May and lasts till June. During this time, male fights for females and mate with them. After laying eggs, females are independent, while male emu incubates eggs. During this process, which lasts eight weeks, the male emu cannot eat food or drink or a single drop of water. It's all the responsibility of male to raise and protect their children. Females can also mate again and lay further eggs. They do not mate for life and can change their mates every mating season.
| image = Emu - melbourne zoo.jpg
To survive against predators, they use their strong legs as their primary weapon. [http://Emus%20spittinghttps://animalsbeach.com/do-emus-spit/ Emus spitting] behavior is also famous for warning predators to stay away. They are an endangered species in most regions of the world due to their predation, egg theft, and road accidents. Depriving in habitat is also a reason for their extinction. Against all, the [http://IUCN%20reportIUCN%20report IUCN report] claimed them “least concern” in Australia indicates dangers.
| image_width = 250px
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[bird|Aves]]
| ordo = [[Ratite|Struthioniformes]]
| familia = [[Casuariidae]]
| genus = ''Dromaius''
| binomial = ''Dromaius novaehollandiae''
| binomial_authority = ([[John Latham (ornithologist)|Latham]], 1790)
| range_map = Dromaius novaehollandiae map distribution 2.svg
| range_map_width = 250px
| range_map_caption = The Emu has been recorded in the areas shown in pink.
}}
[[File:Dromaius novaehollandiae MHNT.ZOO.2010.11.1.7.jpg|thumb|egg of  ''Dromaius novaehollandiae'']]
The '''emu''' (''Dromaius novaehollandiae'') is a large [[flightless bird]]. It is native to [[Australia]]. The emu is the tallest bird from [[Australia]]. It is also the second tallest bird in the world, after its [[ratite]] relative, the [[ostrich]]. The emu is also related to the [[cassowary]] which is slightly smaller but heavier.
 
== Other emus ==
 
There were also two [[species]] of dwarf emu, ''Dromaius minor'', one living on King Island in Tasmania and the other on [[Kangaroo Island]]. They are examples of [[island dwarfism]]. The group on King Island became [[extinct]] in 1805, that on Kangaroo Island in 1827, and that in Tasmania in 1865.<ref name="Blakers">{{cite book|last=Blakers|first=M.|author2=S.J.J.F. Davies and P.N. Reilly |title=The Atlas of Australian Birds|url=https://archive.org/details/atlasofaustralia0000blak|publisher=Melbourne University Press |location=Melbourne|date=1984|isbn=0522842852|accessdate=October 3, 2009}}</ref>
 
== Description ==
The soft-feathered, brown birds reach up to {{convert|1.9|m|ft|0|lk=on|abbr=on}} in height.<ref name="imp">{{cite book|title=Discovering Wildlife - The Ultimate Fact File|publisher=International Masters Publishers BV MMV|date=2002|pages=21|language=English}}</ref> Their feathers are in a double layer which helps keep the emu cool.<ref name=imp/> They have bare skin on the sides of the face and their neck. They can weigh up to {{convert|55|kg|lb|0|lk=on|abbr=on}}.<ref name=imp/> They have two large legs, with three toes on each foot. Their wings are very short, about
{{convert|20|cm|in|0|lk=on|abbr=on}}, and are hidden under their feathers.
 
They can live up to 10–20 years
The emu is common over most of mainland Australia. It avoids very thick forests and very dry areas. Emus can travel great distances at a fast trot. If necessary they can run at up to {{convert|50|km/h|mph|0|lk=on|abbr=on}} for some distance at a time.<ref name = "Davies">Davies, S. J. J. F. 1963. Emus. ''Australian Natural History'' 14:225–29</ref> They may travel long distances to find food. One emu was found to have traveled {{convert|990|km|mi|0|lk=on|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Blakers/>
 
== Diet ==
They feed on a variety of plants (seeds, flowers, new growth) and insects.
 
== Breeding ==
[[File:Baby Emu.jpg|thumb|220px|right|Emu chick with striped feathers]]
Emus are solitary birds. However, the young chicks stay with the father until they are 18 months of age. The breeding season is between February and July, when the female can lay between 5-15 eggs in a ground nest built by the male.<ref name=imp/> The male then sits on the eggs for 8 weeks until hatching.<ref name=imp/> The baby chicks have very clear stripes on the feathers which act as camouflage.<ref name=imp/>
 
On the east coast of Australia, emus were once common but have become uncommon with increased human population. On the other hand, the development of farms and the supply of water for stock have increased the range of the Emu in arid (dry) regions.<ref name="Emu fact sheet">{{cite web |url=http://www.amonline.net.au/birds/factsheets/emu.htm |title= Emu fact sheet|accessdate=2008-07-27 |format= |work= Australian Museum Online}}</ref> Emus are farmed for their meat, [[Emu oil|oil]] and [[leather]]. The first emu farms began in [[Western Australia]] during the 1970s.<ref name="DECC">{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/animals/TheEmu.htm|title=Emu|date=September 2002|work=Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water|publisher=New South Wales Government|language=English|accessdate=2009-12-11|archive-date=2010-05-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530110959/http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/animals/TheEmu.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
== The history of the name ==
The first written description of the emu was under the name of the New Holland Cassowary in [[Arthur Phillip|Arthur Phillip's]] ''Voyage to Botany Bay'', published in 1789.<ref name = "Gould">Gould, J. 1865. ''Handbook to the Birds of Australia'' Volume 2. Reprinted in 1972 by Landsdowne Press</ref> The species was named by [[ornithology|ornithologist]] (bird expert) [[John Latham (ornithologist)|John Latham]], who worked on Phillip's book. He provided the first descriptions of and names for many Australian bird species. Its [[science|scientific]] name, Dromaius novaehollandiae, is from the [[Latin]] words, meaning "fast-footed [[New Holland (Australia)|New Hollander]]". The history of the common name, ''emu'', is not certain, but is thought to have come from an [[Arabic language|Arabic]] word for large bird. This word was later used by [[Portugal|Portuguese]] explorers to describe the related [[Cassowary]] in [[New Guinea]].<ref name="Emu fact sheet"/> In Victoria, some [[Indigenous Australian]] words for the emu were ''Barrimal'' in the [[Djadja wurrung]] language, ''myoure'' in [[Gunai]], and ''courn'' in [[Jardwadjali]].<ref name="Wesson 2001">{{cite book | author = Wesson, Sue C. | year = 2001 | title = Aboriginal flora and fauna names of Victoria: As extracted from early surveyors' reports | location = Melbourne | publisher = Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages | url = http://www.vaclang.org.au/admin/file/content9/c7/ff.pdf | accessdate = 2006-11-11}}</ref>
 
== References ==
{{reflist}}
 
[[Category:Birds of Australia]]
[[Category:Ratites]]
[[Category:Struthioniformes]]
[[Category:National symbols of Australia]]
Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/438425"