Regal, Resplendent Ratites Trivia Quiz

Answer: A flat, raft-like breastbone that lacks a keel

Ratites are defined by the presence of a flat breastbone (sternum) that lacks a keel, an anchor point for flight muscles. Having a flat and smooth breastbone causes these birds to not have the anatomy needed to fly. Many ratites have small or rudimentary wings, powerful, strong legs for walking and running as well as unique feather adaptations.

Answer: Ostrich

The ostrich is the tallest and heaviest of all living birds on Earth. They can be up to 2.8 m (9.2 ft) tall and weigh up to 157 kg (346 lb). The wingspan of an ostrich can be up to 2 metres. However they only use their wings for display, steering and balance. They also have the largest eyes of any land vertebrate, even larger than their brains.

Answer: Ostrich

Ostriches are the only didactyl birds on earth. Each of their feet has only two toes. This adaptation allows them to engage in high-speed running, approximately 70 km/h (44 mi/h). Ostriches have an enormous inner toe which is responsible for supporting the bulk of the bird's body weight and acts as a spring-loaded shock absorber for running at high speeds.

This toe possesses a sharp, robust claw used to deliver forceful kicks against predators.

Answer: Dark green

Emu eggs are often dark green with a textured and granular surface. They are approximately 10-15 cm long (4-6 in) and weigh around 450 to 700 grams (1-1.5 lbs). The eggs are so large that one emu egg equals 8-12 chicken eggs. As with cassowaries and rheas, the male builds the nest, incubates the eggs, and raises the chicks to independence entirely on his own.

Answer: False

Actually they are in Germany. A small group of rheas escaped from a private farm in 2000. These birds, who had no natural predators, had large amounts of land to explore and mild winters to enjoy, thrived and reproduced. Their numbers peaked at 566 in late 2018 but, due to the crop damage they caused, population controls were put in place.

There are still an estimated 40 - 90 wild rheas in Germany in the late 2020s.

Answer: Australia

The Great Emu War occurred in Australia in late 1932. It was a short and unsuccessful military operation in which the Australian Army used machine guns to try to exterminate a massive, resilient population of 20,000 emus which were destroying local crops.

It failed because many birds scattered and others dodged the bullets. Those that were hit absorbed the bullets due to their thick plumage and tough hides. After firing nearly 10,000 rounds of ammunition, the soldiers managed to kill fewer than 1,000 birds. Such poor results caused the military operation to be called off.

Answer: Kicking

Kicking is an important defence mechanism for ratites. Because they cannot fly from predators, their leg muscles and specialized claws have evolved to deliver blows capable of seriously injuring and even killing large animals. Ostriches kick forward and downward with a force of up to 2,000 pounds per square inch.

Cassowaries leap into the air and strike downward, slicing through flesh. Emus are able to kick forward, sideways, and backward, making their movements highly unpredictable. Rheas are less apt to kick, relying on biting and charging when threatened, but they are able to kick with substantial force.

Answer: False

No, that 'honour' goes to the cassowary, whose downward kick with 12 cm (5 in) sharp, inner-toe claws makes them dangerous. Cassowaries are solitary and shy, choosing to hide in the bush, but can become very aggressive when they are expecting or searching for food, defending their chicks or eggs, protecting their territory, or feeling cornered or provoked.

Answer: Cassowary

Cassowaries are known for their unusually green-coloured eggs ranging from bright, fluorescent green to lime-green to teal. The colour is produced by biliverdin, a pigment in the eggshell which helps camouflage the eggs in the rainforest. As soon as the female lays the eggs, she leaves and the male incubates them and raises the chicks.

Answer: Hissing

Most ratites hiss as a means of communication, usually as a warning to deter predators. When feeling threatened, agitated, or cornered, ratites expel air from their air sacs, creating a loud, intimidating hiss which serves as a warning before they kick. Breeding adults hiss at anything they perceive as danger to their young. Ratites also hiss to establish dominance or to create boundaries with others of the same species.