Gourt > Science > Biology > Flora and Fauna > Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Struthioniformes (2)
A ratite is any of a diverse group of large, flightless birds of Gondwanian origin, most of them now extinct. Unlike other flightless birds, the ratites have no keel on their sternum and, lacking a strong anchor for their wing muscles, could not fly even were they to develop suitable wings. The ratite comes from the Greek word for raft, because their breastbone looks like a raft.
Most parts of the former Gondwana have ratites, or have had until the fairly recent past.
Living species
More on [ Ratite ]
Ratites :: Livestock
Ostrich, Emu, and Rhea :: Exotic
Struthioniformes: Message posted Wed Dec 30 01:32:15 PST 2009 http://su.pr/4LFQ0W
StumbleUponQA (Mary Ann M-P) Wed, 30 Dec 2009 09:46:03 -0000
Struthioniformes: Message posted Wed Dec 30 01:32:15 PST 2009 http://su.pr/4LFQ0W
Moa Central - Information on the moa, New Zealand's giant extinct bird.
Order Struthioniformes - Introduction to the ratite taxonomic group, including ostriches, emus, cassowaries, and related flightless birds. Links to fact sheets and photos of individual species. From the Animal Diversity Web.
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