Ostrich

Some analyses indicate that the Somali Ostrich may be better considered a full species separate frae the Common Ostrich, but maist taxonomists consider it to be a subspecies.

Common ostrich Temporal range: 15–0 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N Early Miocene-Present
Sooth African ostrich male (left) an females (S. camelus australis)
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kinrick:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Cless:	Aves
Superorder:	Palaeognathae
Order:	Struthioniformes
Faimily:	Struthionidae
Genus:	Struthio
Species:	S. camelus
Binomial name
Struthio camelus Linnaeus, 1758
Subspecies
S. c. camelus Linnaeus, 1758 North African ostrich S. c. australis Gurney, 1868 Sooth African ostrich S. c. massaicus Neumann, 1898 Masai ostrich †S. c. syriacus Rothschild, 1919 Arabie ostrich
Struthio camelus distribution map      S. c. camelus       S. molybdophanes      S. c. massaicus       S. c. australis

The ostrich shares the order Struthioniformes wi the kiwis, emus, rheas, an cassowaries. It is distinctive in its appearance, wi a lang neck an legs, an can run at up tae aboot \ land speed o ony bird. The ostrich is the lairgest livin species o bird an lays the lairgest eggs o ony livin bird (extinct elephant birds o Madagascar an the giant moa o New Zealand laid lairger eggs).

The ostrich's diet consists mainly o plant matter, tho it an aa eats invertebrates. It lifes in nomadic groups o 5 tae 50 birds. When threatened, the ostrich will aither hide itself bi lying flat against the grund, or run away. If cornered, it can attack wi a kick o its pouerful legs. Matin patterns differ bi geographical region, but territorial males ficht for a harem o twa tae seiven females.

The ostrich is fairmed aroond the warld, parteecularly for its feathers, which are decorative an are an aa uised as feather dusters. Its skin is uised for laither products an its meat is mercatit commercially.