Cassowary 1
The name cassowary comes from two Papuan words, kasu which means horned, and weri which means head. The colourful cassowary is one of the most recognisable icons of the Wet Tropics. This striking bird with its brilliant blue and purple head and neck, red wattles, and amber eyes, is an endangered species with an uncertain future.
In evolutionary terms, the flightless birds (or ratites) were some of the earliest types of birds to develop. The cassowary, emu, rhea, kiwi and ostrich are still around today. But others, like the moas of New Zealand and the elephant bird of Madagascar are now extinct.
Cassowaries evolved in a region of the supercontinent, Gondwana, that later broke apart and became Northern Australia, Papua New Guinea and some of the eastern island groups of Indonesia. Three species of cassowaries are found in Papua New Guinea but only the southern cassowary lives in Australia. Two separate populations of cassowary are found here - one in the Wet Tropics between Mount Halifax/Paluma and Cooktown, and the other in the Shelburne Bay area and eastern Cape York Peninsula (McIlwraith and Iron Ranges from Temple Bay to Massey River, and possibly into Princess Charlotte Bay).
The purpose of the cassowary's distinctive casque (helmet), which is unique to every individual, is unknown, but recent research suggests that it may help cassowaries to feel the low vibrating sound made by other cassowaries over long distances. This unusual sense, called infrasound, was used by some dinosaurs, and is also shared by a few modern animals, including cassowaries and elephants.
Another striking feature of the cassowary is its long, glossy black feathers, which are coarse and hair-like. Cassowary feathers differ from other birds in that they have a quill that splits in two and lack the barbules that normally hold birds' feathers together.
An adult cassowary can reach 1.8-2m in height although most
are about 1.5m. Females are bigger than males. The largest
on record weighed 85kg, making it Australia’s largest land animal. Weights of 60kg are not unusual for females while males weigh in at 35kg.
These shots of this amazing bird were taken at Australia Zoo - quite the playground for photographing animals.
Have a good day everyone!
Cassowary 1
The name cassowary comes from two Papuan words, kasu which means horned, and weri which means head. The colourful cassowary is one of the most recognisable icons of the Wet Tropics. This striking bird with its brilliant blue and purple head and neck, red wattles, and amber eyes, is an endangered species with an uncertain future.
In evolutionary terms, the flightless birds (or ratites) were some of the earliest types of birds to develop. The cassowary, emu, rhea, kiwi and ostrich are still around today. But others, like the moas of New Zealand and the elephant bird of Madagascar are now extinct.
Cassowaries evolved in a region of the supercontinent, Gondwana, that later broke apart and became Northern Australia, Papua New Guinea and some of the eastern island groups of Indonesia. Three species of cassowaries are found in Papua New Guinea but only the southern cassowary lives in Australia. Two separate populations of cassowary are found here - one in the Wet Tropics between Mount Halifax/Paluma and Cooktown, and the other in the Shelburne Bay area and eastern Cape York Peninsula (McIlwraith and Iron Ranges from Temple Bay to Massey River, and possibly into Princess Charlotte Bay).
The purpose of the cassowary's distinctive casque (helmet), which is unique to every individual, is unknown, but recent research suggests that it may help cassowaries to feel the low vibrating sound made by other cassowaries over long distances. This unusual sense, called infrasound, was used by some dinosaurs, and is also shared by a few modern animals, including cassowaries and elephants.
Another striking feature of the cassowary is its long, glossy black feathers, which are coarse and hair-like. Cassowary feathers differ from other birds in that they have a quill that splits in two and lack the barbules that normally hold birds' feathers together.
An adult cassowary can reach 1.8-2m in height although most
are about 1.5m. Females are bigger than males. The largest
on record weighed 85kg, making it Australia’s largest land animal. Weights of 60kg are not unusual for females while males weigh in at 35kg.
These shots of this amazing bird were taken at Australia Zoo - quite the playground for photographing animals.
Have a good day everyone!