Being second isn’t always bad. Especially when you’re the second largest bird in the world, next to the ostrich! The emu is a flightless bird, but don’t let that fool you. They are far from defenseless. They descend from the dinosaur era, so they know how to survive. They are fast, they have a sharp beak, and boy can they kick! Read more about these incredible critters…
First the Stats…
Scientific name: Dromaius novaehollandiae
Weight: 40 – 132 lbs
Height: 6.2 feet
Lifespan: 10 – 20 years
Now on to the Facts!
1.) An emu is typically a solitary animal but will herd if there is an abundance of food available.
2.) Emus are omnivores (eats both plants and animals). They also eat small stones to aid in grinding their food up and speed up digestion.
3.) The emu can run up to 30 miles per hour!
4.) Believe it or not, emus are good swimmers, able to cross rivers to get to food or find shelter.
5.) Humans, crocodiles, and wild dogs will sometimes hunt emus but, other than that, they have no real predators.
But wait, there’s more about the emu!
6.) They have a special pouch in its throat that’s used for communicating. When the pouch is inflated, the emu can make deep grunting, booming, and drumming noises. These sounds can usually be heard during the breeding season.
7.) Emus have good eyesight and hearing, which allows them to detect danger at a decent range.
Did you know…?
The sounds made by an emu can be heard up to 1.2 miles away!
8.) The female can lay between 8 and 10 eggs when in season; which is typically summer. However, since the eggs are so large, she will only lay one egg every 2 to 3 days.
9.) Emu eggs are a dark green in color and have thick shell. They weigh about one pound! The male will sit on the eggs for approximately 8 weeks, until they are ready to hatch. During that nesting time, the male emu will not eat but rather uses stored fats as its source of energy.
10.) An emu’s body contains up to 3 gallons of oil. Emu oil is used in soaps, shampoo, lotions, and other health care products.
Now a Short Emu Video!
