Dromaius novaehollandiae (Latham, 1790)
Emu
Species recognized by T Orrell (custodian), The Integrated Taxonomic Information System
in 
Table Of Contents
- Description
- Morphology
- Behavior
- Reproduction and Life History
- Trophic Strategy
- Ecology and Distribution
- Distribution
- Habitat
- Conservation
- Relevance
- Uses
- Biodiversity Heritage Library
- References and More Information
- Literature References
- Specialist Projects
- Common Names
Morphology
Physical Description
The emu is the second largest living bird. The height of the emu averages 1.75 m. Females weigh about 5 kg more than males. Emus are large, flightless, shaggy birds. Their loose double feathers, in which the aftershaft (the secondary feather that branches from the base of the main feather) is the same length as the main feather, hang limply from their bodies. Their necks and legs are long, but their wings are tiny, reduced to less than 20 cm. After molting the birds are dark, but as sunlight fades the melanins that give the feathers their brown color, the birds become paler. Emus have three toes. Chicks are striped longitudinally with black, brown and cream, so they blend easily into long grass and dense shrubbery. (Perrin and Middleton, 1985; Grzimek, 1972)
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