Common Ostrich
Struthio camelus · Bird, Vertebrate, Warm-blooded, Wild
Animal Family
Struthionidae, order Struthioniformes, class Aves
Animal Category
Wild Prey
Breed / Variety
Nominal subspecies or common ostrich variants
Conservation Status
Least Concern, population trend decreasing due to habitat loss and hunting
About This Creature
Large flightless bird with a long neck, long bare legs, and bulky body, standing up to 2.8 meters tall and weighing up to 156 kg
Physical Characteristics
Powerful long legs with two toes on each foot, long neck, reduced wings used for balance, fluffy plumage, and large prominent eyes
Behavior & Temperament
Social in nomadic groups, diurnal, relies on acute vision and incredible running speed up to 70 km/h to evade predators
Habitat & Diet
Origin Region
Africa, found natively across savannas and the Sahel, introduced elsewhere
Habitat
Savannah, open grassland, and semi-arid desert; terrestrial
Diet & Nutrition
Omnivorous, feeding mainly on seeds, shrubs, grass, fruit, and occasionally insects or small vertebrates
Lifespan & Health
Lifespan of 40 to 45 years in the wild or captivity, heavily preyed upon by large carnivores like lions and hyenas
Special Characteristics
Largest living bird, largest eggs of any living land animal, and possesses the largest eyes of any land vertebrate
Ecological Information
Acts as a seed disperser and prey item within savannah ecosystems, grazing vegetation to help maintain open landscapes