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Emus
Large, flightless birds of Australia: their appearance, habitat, facts, and myths.
415 Questions
The ostrich (from Africa), rhea (South America) and the cassowary (northern Australia and Papua New Guinea) are all flightless birds in the same category of "ratites" as the emu. Ratites have wings but the bones in their chests do not have the capacity for flight muscles, which is what a bird needs to fly.
Some emus have blue on their neck Are they male or female?
Both male and female emus have blue on their necks. It is impossible to tell the male and female apart by appearance alone.
Are emus and kangaroos found in every state and territory of Australia?
Almost: emus are found everywhere on the mainland, but not in Tasmania, whilst kangaroos are found everywhere, although the red kangaroo is not found in Tasmania.
Emus can be found in almost any climate in Australia except desert because, unlike many of Australia's native creatures, it does need a ready supply of water. Emus range from coastal areas to the Alpine regions, but are not found in open, sandy desert areas of Australia's central west, due to lack of shelter and the insufficient food source for such a large bird. They are most common in New South Wales, in open scrubland and grasslands. They are not found in rainforest regions or closed forest. They are also found in areas where agriculture has overtaken the natural habitat, particularly if there is a ready water source.
How do you tell the difference between a male and female emu?
There is no obvious physical difference between a male and female emu. Even experts are unable to tell them apart. There are no obvious physical difference between male and female emus as their size, shape and colouring is identical.
The main difference is in the sound they make. It is the female that makes a deep "drumming" sound from inside her throat, and this sound can be carried over a long distance, heard up to 2km away. The male makes a guttural grunting sound.
What is the unique feature of the emu and kangaroo?
It is said that neither the emu nor the kangaroo can walk backwards. It is physiologically impossible for the kangaroo, and no emu has ever been observed walking backwards. This is why these two animals were selected for the Australian coat or arms. They are symbols of progression.
Why did the European settlers kill the emus?
Emus were killed for food. They were large birds, and although fast, the fact that they were flightless made it easier to catch them.
Yes. Emus are farmed for both their meat and "emu oil", a substance therapeutic for arthritis and rheumatism.
1 week $65
2 week $ 70
3 week $ 74
4 week $ 79
5 week $84
6 week $89
7 week $94
8 week $99
9 week $104
10 week $109
11 week $ 114
12 week $119
3 months $125
add $20 per month thereafter
What are the male and female names of the emu?
Male emus are only referred to as male emus and female emus as female emus.
the cost of emu eggs varries from 1500 to 2200/-the cost of eggs depends on the weight of the egg.any egg which weighs above 750 grams fetches arround 2200/-
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. * 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.
Is the Emu a native Australian animal?
Emus certainly can be farmed for their meat. But it is not what is commonly thought of when thinking of a 'farm animal'.
Why do birds like the ostrich and the emu have wings though they cannot fly?
Emus live all over Australia and although they are classed as birds, they are one of the very few birds that can't actually fly at all. They are members of a group of birds called ratites. Other ratites include the Southern cassowary of Australia and New Guinea, the kiwi from New Zealand, the ostrich from Africa and the rhea from South America.
Ratites have wings but the bones in their chests do not have the capacity for flight muscles, which is what a bird needs to fly. Although the emu does not actually weigh as much as it appears (30-45kg), its wings are also too small by comparison to lift it.
What is another name for an emu?
There is no other name for an emu. It is an Australian flightless bird. It is not an ostrich, or a cassowary, or a kiwi. It is just an emu.
How do emus protect their babies?
The emus' breeding season begins at the end of Autumn and goes through to Spring, so in Australia, this is from about May to October.
A clutch of emu eggs averages around 10-12 eggs, but these are not necessarily from the same female. The male, who incubates the eggs, may court more than one female for the nest he builds. He builds a nest in a shallow depression in the ground, lining it with bark, grass, twigs, and leaves.
The male incubates the eggs, during which time he does not eat, drink, or pass any waste matter, surviving only on accumulated body fat. The male stays on the nest twenty-four hours a day, standing only every couple of hours to turn the eggs.
It takes between 56-60 days for the eggs to hatch. The chicks, which are distinctly striped and unique in appearance, stay with the father for 5-7 months.
Young emus reach sexual maturity between 2 and 3 years of age. The average lifespan of emus can be 10 to 20 years.
How many chicks does an emu have each year?
Emus have a single clutch of chicks each year. A clutch of emu eggs averages around 10-12 eggs, but these are not necessarily from the same female. The male, who incubates the eggs, may court more than one female for the nest he builds.
Yes. Like all birds, the emu is a vertebrate, meaning it has a backbone and an internal skeleton.
