The ostrich (Struthio camelus) is an African ratite and the only living member of the family Struthionidae. It is the largest and heaviest bird still alive and the fastest ratite in the world. The ostrich is closely related to other large ratites, including the nandoes, emus and cassowaries.
The ostrich is the largest and heaviest bird species of today. Adult males can grow up to 2.75 meters high and 155 kilograms heavy, but average 1.80 to 2.10 meters; females are slightly smaller and lighter, up to 1.90 meters high and 110 kilograms heavy. The ostrich has powerful, long and unfeathered legs. There are two toes on each leg (the only bird species with this number), one large, strong with a nail of 10 cm and a smaller one without. The big toe is used for running. Ostriches have a relatively small head, but very large eyes. With a diameter of 50 mm, they are even the largest eyes of all land animals. The long, bald neck represents almost half the length of the body.
Photographed in Blijdorp Zoo
We are Loek and Karin Lobel, and our passion is animal photography, both in the wild and in zoos.
We are loek en Karin Lobel and we love to take pictures in the wild but also in the Zoo...
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