Emu,
flightless bird of Australia and second largest living bird: the emu is
more than 1.5 m (5 feet) tall and may weigh more than 45 kilograms (100
pounds). The emu is the sole living member of the family Dromaiidae (or
Dromiceiidae) of the order Casuariiformes, which also includes the
cassowaries.The common emu Dromaius (or Dromiceius) novaehollandiae (see photograph),
the only survivor of several forms exterminated by settlers, is stout
bodied and long legged, like its relative the cassowary. Both sexes are
brownish, with dark-gray head and neck. Emus can dash away at nearly 50
kilometres per hour (30 mph); if cornered they kick with their big,
three-toed feet. Emus mate for life; the male incubates from 7 to 10
dark-green eggs, 13 centimetres (5 inches) long, in a ground nest for
about 60 days. The striped young soon run with the adults. In small
flocks emus forage for fruits and insects but may also damage crops. The
peculiar structure of the trachea of the emu is correlated with the
loud booming note of the bird during the breeding season. Three
subspecies are recognized, inhabiting nort
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