| OSTRICH |
| Struthio camelus |
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Range:
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Throughout Central Africa |
 Ostriches can tolerate a wide range of temperatures. In much of its habitat, temperature differences of 40°C between night- and daytime can be encountered. Their temperature control mechanism is more complex than in other birds and mammals, utilizing the naked skin of the upper legs and flanks which can be covered by the wing feathers or bared according to whether the bird wants to retain or lose body heat.
When lying down and hiding from predators, the birds lay their head and neck flat on the ground, making them appear as a mound of earth from a distance. This even works for the males, as they hold their wings and tail low so that the heat haze of the hot, dry air that often occurs in their habitat aids in making them appear as a nondescript dark lump. When threatened, Ostriches run away, but they can cause serious injury with kicks from their powerful legs.
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| Habitat: |
Savannah |
| Diet: |
They mainly feed on seeds and other plant matter; occasionally they also eat insects such as locusts. Lacking teeth, they swallow pebbles that help as gastroliths to grind the swallowed foodstuff in the gizzard. An adult ostrich typically carries about 1 kg of stones in its stomach. |
| Status: |
Non-threatened (IUCN) |
| Approximate Dimensions of Adult: |
Weight: 200 to 285 pounds.
Height: 6 feet and 9 feet in height. |
| Lifespan: |
An Ostrich can live up to 75 years. |
| Reproduction & Offspring: |
Ostriches are oviparous. The females will lay their fertilized eggs in a single communal nest, a simple pit scraped in the ground and 30 to 60 cm deep. Ostrich eggs can weigh 1.3 kg and are the largest of all eggs, though they are actually the smallest eggs relative to the size of the bird. The nest may contain 15 to 60 eggs. The gestation period is 35 to 45 days. Typically, the male will tend to the hatchlings |
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