All About Cassowaries

Classification

The distinct Cassowary (Casuarius) can be found in Australia (Queensland), Papua New Guinea (in the rain forests). Cassowaries are large birds that do not fly, they  eat fruits, insects and small mammals. Cassowaries have a black mohawk, blue and red face, black bushy back, long skinny legs and a drawn out neck. Cassowaries are at least concerned about extinction.

Features and Traits 

A Cassowary has a blue face with a red floppy skin under their neck, they have a black and grey bushy back with a lengthy leg that is 127cm to 170cm. The Cassowaries neck can grow up to six feet tall, they need a long neck to reach down to find food or find food from neutral sized trees. 

Life Cycle 

Cassowaries are born by the female laying eggs then the male sits on the eggs for 50 to 52 days. The female can lay up to 3 to 8 eggs and 50% of them will hatch and live a life. When the hatchling is born it can weigh up to 418 grams, and when they grow up they are 55 kilograms, they are known to be the heaviest bird in Australia. When the Cassowary dies it stands still then falls to the ground and decomposes its body.

Habitat

The Cassowaries habitat is in Australia and Papua New Guinea. In Australia they mostly live in the wild and in Papua New Guinea they live in the farms and rainforests. Cassowaries can live anywhere where it has small and tiny animals. Cassowaries like living in rainforests because there are lots of fruits hanging from trees.

Diet

The Cassowaries diet is very specific. They eat any small mammals, insects, large fruits, acorns, nuts and over 200 species of different plants. When Cassowaries are in the wild they use their drawn out neck to reach fruits from the trees. Sometimes they just find leftover fruits on the ground. Cassowaries are omnivores.

Behavior

When the Cassowary wakes up it goes to seek food and drink water. When it is the breeding season the female will build a nest to try and interact with the males. Males try to stay away from the other males because they can get into fights when there is a female watching, they try to impress the female that they are strong and protective.

Adaptations

Cassowaries have thick fluffy feathers to protect them from the cold breezy nights in the rainforests. The Cassowary also has thick nails for a quick kick defence move. The Cassowary primarily eats fruits. The Cassowary eats more fruits because they have adapted to the forest with lots of fruit in trees. They have adapted to a powerful kick that would end the chase or fight. The Cassowary uses the powerful kick for the last defence tool if the enemy doesn’t retreat. Cassowaries also have a red and blue skin underneath their heads because, it helps them to interact with mostly females. 

Predators and Threats

Although Cassowaries are strong there are some animals that can eat and kill the Cassowary in seconds. These animals are feral pigs, pythons, monitor lizards, dingoes and domestic dogs. These animals can eat the Cassowary because they can pounce and sneak attack the Cassowary. At night time the Cassowary will not move a millimetre because it does not have good night vision. It stays still so the predators can not find them in their nests.

Conservation status

Scientists believe that the Cassowary conservation status is right now least concern. Although the southern Cassowary is endangered because its habitat has been built into houses and townships, some have been absolutely burned down because of global warming. In Queensland the *southern Cassowary only lives up to 20-25% remaining there. The Dwarf Cassowary conservation is at threatened state which means people have to start noticing to help the dwarf Cassowary habitat. The northern Cassowary conservation status is vulnerable but we still have to be careful. *look to the left side.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Cassowary can be found in Australia (Queensland), Papua New Guinea (in the rain forests). The Cassowary is an omnivore so it eats insects, small mammals and mostly plants/fruits. As you now  know more about the distinct Cassowary, use your own knowledge and share it with your friends. Check the bibliography below to find more information. We should help the Cassowary so it doesn’t get threatened.               Cassowary can smile like this:)

Goodbye and thank you for listening to my presentation!!!

Glossary

1. Casuarius – a scientific name for Cassowary.
2. Omnivores – animals eat both plants and meat.
3. Neutral – means average of a tree.
4. Least concern – means the Cassowary is not even close to extinction.
5. Heaviest – means the weight of the bird is a lot.
6. Breeding season – when the female and male lay eggs in a specific season.
7. Rain forests – places where it has a lot of animals and insects/creatures.
8. Distinct – means different from other animals or things.
9. Threatened – means nearly extinct.
10. Protective – means nobody can touch you.
11. Pounce – means to jump on something.

12. Nest – place where birds lay their eggs and sleep.