Table of Contents
Why are cassowaries so dangerous?
Cassowaries have three-toed feet with sharp claws. The second toe, the inner one in the medial position, sports a dagger-like claw that may be 125 mm (5 in) long. This claw is particularly fearsome, since cassowaries sometimes kick humans and other animals with their powerful legs.
Where do cassowaries live?
HABITAT AND DIET These fascinating birds range across Northern Australia, New Guinea, and surrounding islands. They live in tropical forests and wetlands. Cassowaries are frugivores that feed on the fruits of several hundred rainforest plants.
Are cassowary cold blooded?
“When the outside temperature is cool, these vessels constrict so it restricts the amount of blood that goes into the casque so the blood will remain warm and keep the cassowary’s body warm.”
Is a cassowary native to Australia?
Cassowaries are native to Northern Australia, New Guinea, and surrounding islands. The family Casuariidae includes three living cassowary species, all of the genus Casuarius: Casuarius casuarius.
What kind of skin does a cassowary have?
The skin on the cassowary’s head and neck is blue. There also is a little red skin on the neck. Two long red free-swinging ‘wattles’ hang down from the neck, with an orange patch on the back of the neck.
How big does a southern cassowary get to be?
SIZE. Largest: Southern cassowary is 4 to 5.6 feet (1.2 to 1.7 meters) tall; females weigh up to 167 pounds (76 kilograms) and males weigh up to 121 pounds (55 kilograms). Smallest: Dwarf cassowary is 3.2 to 3.6 feet (1 to 1.1 meters) tall and weighs up to 63 pounds (29 kilograms)
What kind of bird is a cassowary bird?
Cassowaries are a large flightless bird. The cassowary is a large flightless bird. There are three kinds of cassowary, two found in New Guinea and one, the southern cassowary, found in northern Queensland.
When does a cassowary get a casque on its head?
Wild headgear! All three cassowary species have a casque, also called a helmet, that starts to develop on top of their head at one to two years of age. The casque is made of a sponge-like material and covered with a thick layer of keratin, the same thing our fingernails are made of.