Emu
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ID#49
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Classification: Bird
Endangered Status: Common Habitat: Tropical woodlands, coastal dunes, arid inland planes The emu has a very long neck, long legs, and a very long throat good for swallowing. The emus’ long neck has blue or grey skin underneath the beak or bottom of the neck. This neck lows it to swallow large objects and different shaped objects. With its long neck and legs it can get as tall as 6 ft. Some other distinctive features of the emu are the emu’s toes, because it only has three. The toes are talons that grip the ground and spring off in short fast bursts. The emu has a very protective attitude towards intruders. They may kick or bite if they feel scared or uneasy. One time the emu will spring into attack is when an intruder breaks into the nest. Emu attacks can be extremely dangerous, because of their powerful legs and claws. The emu’s mating season is April to October. They lay eggs that start off as dark green and change colors as they age. These different colors are from the many layers of the egg. While the egg incubates for eight weeks the father stands guard protecting the eggs. The mother is nearby most of the time in case there is an emergency but he does not do much for the eggs. Locals favor these eggs because they can be sold for money, food, or supplies. The many ever-changing layers of the egg can be carved showing the different colors textures and patterns. The Emus short fast bounds can usually cover up to 9ft. They are short fast bursts that can go as fast as 30 miles per hour. An emu can travel an average of 300 miles (500kms) in a year in search of water. It is hard to tell a male from a female so just look for the size. The emu is different from most other species because the female is bigger. Emus live in many different places across Australia. Because of this their nesting spots are different depending on their living location. The nests are mainly made of grasses, leaves and twigs. This helps it to blend in with its surroundings. |