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
Royal Alberta Musem: Eggs of the World Menu: Struthioniformes, Casuariiformes, Tinamiformes, Pelecaniformes - http://shar.es/1qW2T #Oology
xiane (Xiane) Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:48:21 -0000
Royal Alberta Musem: Eggs of the World Menu: Struthioniformes, Casuariiformes, Tinamiformes, Pelecaniformes - http://shar.es/1qW2T #Oology
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.
| Ratites (Struthioniformes) | |
| Next Video | |
