What are the adaptations of the emu?

Answer 1

An emu has a number of useful characteristics which help it to survive in the grasslands and the outback regions of Australia.

• Emus have three toes, unlike the ostrich, which has only two. Having three toes equips the emu more efficiently for running.
• Emus have a unique defence capability: when running at top speed, the structure of their feet enables them to make sudden 180-degree turns which not even a small cat can do: by the time larger creatures in pursuit slow enough to make the turn, the emu is 50-60 metres ahead in the opposite direction.
• Emus have strong endurance, being able to run at a steady, loping pace for a long time.
• When food is plentiful, emus can store extra fat, which they may then rely on as they move on to a new food source.
• Emus are nomadic, moving between food sources. They are therefore not restricted to living in just one area, dying out when drought creates severe food shortage.
• The nature and structure of emu feathers provides insulation for them during the heat of the day.
• Emus are effective swimmers. This is important in a land where floods can occur swiftly and withour warning.
• Emus have an inflatable neck sac, which enables them to make a loud drumming, or booming sound. These calls can be heard from a couple of kilometres away, allowing emus communication between each other over long distances.

Answer 2

The emu has a number of adaptations which enhance its ability to survive in Australia's many and varied climates.

• Emus have three toes, unlike the ostrich, which has only two. Having three toes equips the emu more efficiently for running.
• The central toe of the emu is around 15 cm long and has a very sharp claw, meaning it provides a powerful defence technique.
• Emus have a unique defence capability: when running at top speed, the structure of their feet enables them to make sudden 180-degree turns which not even a small cat can do: by the time larger creatures in pursuit slow enough to make the turn, the emu is 50-60 metres ahead in the opposite direction.
• Emus have strong endurance, being able to run at a steady, loping pace for a long time.
• When food is plentiful, emus can store extra fat, which they may then rely on as they move on to a new food source.
• Emus are nomadic, moving between food sources. They are therefore not restricted to living in just one area, dying out when drought creates severe food shortage.
• The nature and structure of emu feathers provides insulation for them during the heat of the day.
• Emus are effective swimmers. This is important in a land where floods can occur swiftly and withour warning.
• Emus have an inflatable neck sac, which enables them to make a loud drumming, or booming sound. These calls can be heard from a couple of kilometres away, allowing emus communication between each other over long distances.
• Emus live in areas where it can be very hot during the day or quite cold at night. To maintain a constant body temperature of around 40 degrees, they have long, thick, double quilled feathers which serve the function of trapping air and reducing heat loss. Like dogs, they pant to lose heat, as they have no sweat glands.

Answer 3

The emu has a number of adaptations which enhance its ability to survive in Australia's many and varied climates.

• Emus have three toes, unlike the ostrich, which has only two. Having three toes equips the emu more efficiently for running, and therefore for escape from possible predators.
• Emus have a unique defence capability: when running at top speed, the structure of their feet enables them to make sudden 180-degree turns which not even a small cat can do: by the time larger creatures in pursuit slow enough to make the turn, the emu is 50-60 metres ahead in the opposite direction.
• Emus have strong endurance, being able to run at a steady, loping pace for a long time - again, a useful adaptation for evading predators.
• When food is plentiful, emus can store extra fat, which they may then rely on as they move on to a new food source.
• Emus are nomadic, moving between food sources. They are therefore not restricted to living in just one area, dying out when drought creates severe food shortage.
• The nature and structure of emu feathers provides insulation for them during the heat of the day.
• Emus are effective swimmers. This is important in a land where floods can occur swiftly and withour warning.
• Emus have an inflatable neck sac, which enables them to make a loud drumming, or booming sound. These calls can be heard from a couple of kilometres away, allowing emus communication between each other over long distances.

Answer 4

The emu has a number of adaptations which enhance its ability to survive in Australia's many and varied climates.

• Emus have three toes, unlike the ostrich, which has only two. Having three toes equips the emu more efficiently for running. This third toe also gives them a unique defence capability: when running at top speed, the structure of their feet enables them to make sudden 180-degree turns which not even a small cat can do: by the time larger creatures in pursuit slow enough to make the turn, the emu is 50-60 metres ahead in the opposite direction.
• Emus have strong endurance, being able to run at a steady, loping pace for a long time.
• When food is plentiful, emus can store extra fat, which they may then rely on as they move on to a new food source.
• The nature and structure of emu feathers provides insulation for them during the heat of the day.
• Emus have an inflatable neck sac, which enables them to make a loud drumming, or booming sound. These calls can be heard from a couple of kilometres away, allowing emus communication between each other over long distances.