Cassowary
There are a number of birds that live at Taronga Zoo. One of these species is called the 'Cassowary'. There is some information down below which will improve your understanding and knowledge onf Cassowaries.
Scientific Name ~
These large birds are commonly known as 'Cassowaries' however, professionals such as scientists usually refer to them as 'Casuarius' which is their scientific name.
Body Covering ~
Cassowaries' bodies are covered with feathers that cover their skin. The feathers on their body are a dark black colour while their heads and neck are two shades of blue. The feathers on their heads and neck are smaller and finer than the ones on their bodies.
Relative Size ~
Fully grown cassowaries are usually around 1-2 metres tall. As babies however, they are significantly smaller but like most animals, they grow larger as they grow older.
Behaviours ~
Cassowaries have small wings although their bodies are too large for their wings to carry them. They have two sets of appendages which are their feet, which allow them to walk on land, and their wings which are not powerful enough for them to fly. As a result of the cassowary being part of the bird family, they lay eggs. Cassowaries walk on land as they spread over 150 different tropical plant seeds around the forest. The way they spread the seeds around the forest is by eating them and leaving them behind in the form of their droppings. Some seeds can only germinate once they have been through a cassowary's gut. Without these large birds, there would be fewer species of flora in the rainforest, leading to less fauna. Many of the species of both flora and fauna depend on cassowaries.
Zoo Keeper Facts ~
Although cassowaries spread many seeds around the forest, there are about 70 plant species which are too big for cassowaries to digest. Apart from the 70 seeds the cassowaries can't eat, there are another 80 seeds which are too toxic for these large birds to digest.
Scientific Name ~
These large birds are commonly known as 'Cassowaries' however, professionals such as scientists usually refer to them as 'Casuarius' which is their scientific name.
Body Covering ~
Cassowaries' bodies are covered with feathers that cover their skin. The feathers on their body are a dark black colour while their heads and neck are two shades of blue. The feathers on their heads and neck are smaller and finer than the ones on their bodies.
Relative Size ~
Fully grown cassowaries are usually around 1-2 metres tall. As babies however, they are significantly smaller but like most animals, they grow larger as they grow older.
Behaviours ~
Cassowaries have small wings although their bodies are too large for their wings to carry them. They have two sets of appendages which are their feet, which allow them to walk on land, and their wings which are not powerful enough for them to fly. As a result of the cassowary being part of the bird family, they lay eggs. Cassowaries walk on land as they spread over 150 different tropical plant seeds around the forest. The way they spread the seeds around the forest is by eating them and leaving them behind in the form of their droppings. Some seeds can only germinate once they have been through a cassowary's gut. Without these large birds, there would be fewer species of flora in the rainforest, leading to less fauna. Many of the species of both flora and fauna depend on cassowaries.
Zoo Keeper Facts ~
Although cassowaries spread many seeds around the forest, there are about 70 plant species which are too big for cassowaries to digest. Apart from the 70 seeds the cassowaries can't eat, there are another 80 seeds which are too toxic for these large birds to digest.
THEIR HABITAT:
Cassowaries at Taronga Zoo live in enclosures that resemble what their habitat would be like in the wild. There are a number of different species of plants in their enclosure. These plants and small trees take up lots of the space in their enclosure so it resembles the environment in which wild cassowaries live in whilst living in the rainforest. The floor is covered with dirt and soil as well as fallen leaves and branches from the surrounding trees. This floor is able to keep the cassowaries comfortable if they want to lie-down or rest on the floor.
Take a look at the photograph below to see what the cassowaries' home at Taronga Zoo looks like!
Cassowaries at Taronga Zoo live in enclosures that resemble what their habitat would be like in the wild. There are a number of different species of plants in their enclosure. These plants and small trees take up lots of the space in their enclosure so it resembles the environment in which wild cassowaries live in whilst living in the rainforest. The floor is covered with dirt and soil as well as fallen leaves and branches from the surrounding trees. This floor is able to keep the cassowaries comfortable if they want to lie-down or rest on the floor.
Take a look at the photograph below to see what the cassowaries' home at Taronga Zoo looks like!
ADAPTATIONS AND FEATURES: