Birds
Reptiles
Emu/Class
The emu belongs to a group of flightless birds known as ratites. This group includes the Emu, Cassowary, Rhea, Ostrich, Moa, and Kiwi.
What is special about emus?
Emus are very fast, but not faster than kangaroos. Emus can run at 50km per hour, which is faster than Usain Bolt, the fastest man. But contrary to popular myth, they are not faster than Eastern Grey Kangaroos – who can reach a top speed of 71km per hour.
What does an emu do?
The emu is a fast runner and can reach speeds of up to 31 mph (50 km/hr). Their long legs enable them to walk considerable distances or outrun danger. Emus are also strong swimmers. In emus, as in most ratites—large flightless birds—the male incubates the eggs.
What are the characteristics of an emu?
Emus are soft-feathered, brown, flightless birds with long necks and legs. Their feet are long, with three toes (one toe on each foot has a long talon, for fighting). Emus are also good swimmers and can travel great distances. They can run at up to 65 Km/h for short bursts, as well.
Who discovered the Emu?
Emus were first reported as having been seen by Europeans when explorers visited the western coast of Australia in 1696. This was during an expedition led by Dutch captain Willem de Vlamingh who was searching for survivors of a ship that had gone missing two years earlier.
Do emus migrate?
Emu Behaviour Emus are generally nomadic. They usually travel in pairs although they can form huge flocks. They follow a seasonal migration pattern, typically north in the summer and south in the winter although eastern emus seem to follow no pattern at all.
What is emus habitat?
Emus live in a variety of habitats from open arid plains to tropical woodlands. They avoid thickly forested areas. Emus occur in all Australian states except Tasmania. They are found across most of Victoria, although they avoid densely populated areas and are generally absent from the central district.
How fast can emu run?
31 mphEmu / Speed (Maximum, Sprint)
Are emus social animals?
Emus are typically solitary birds, coming together in large flocks only when migrating in search of better food resources. Males and females will bond and stay together during mating season.
Is emu a mammal?
Emus are members of the ratite family, which also includes ostriches, cassowaries, and rheas. They are among the largest birds in the world, and they’re found primarily in Australia, but also in New Guinea, Indonesia, Solomon Islands, and the Philippines.
How long can emus live?
5-10 years
In the wild emus live 5-10 years, but in captivity they may live 35 years.
How fast do emus grow?
Emus grow quickly — by 1 year old they can be between 5 and 6 feet tall — and need lots of room to roam. Boneta said that emus always remind her of the Dr. Seuss story “Green Eggs and Ham” because their huge eggs really are green.
Emu has long neck, sharp beak and small ears. Its body is covered with light-brown feathers. Each feather has a double shaft. Emu has small wings which provide stability during running. Emu has two eyelids. One eyelid is used for blinking, while other prevents dust and sand to enter the eyes. Emu has three toes on each foot.
Why do people hunt EMU?
People hunt emu because of its feather, meat and fat. Emu is very large bird. Females are slightly larger. Emu reaches between 5 and 6.5 feet in height. It can weigh up to 130 pounds. Emu has long neck, sharp beak and small ears. Its body is covered with light-brown feathers. Each feather has a double shaft.
What is the habitat of an emu?
An Emu’s preferred habitat includes open plains but they’re also found in snowfields, forests and savannah woodlands. They seldom inhabit highly populated areas, rainforests or arid regions, but permanent water sources for stock has increased numbers in more arid areas.
How many EMUs are there in Australia?
In Australia there are between 625,000 to 725,000 wild emus. Globally they have been farmed for their meat, leather and oil.
