There are many rare animals in the world that are extinct or on the verge of extinction. Ratites or flightless birds are included on this list. These strange animals have very small wings that are not large enough to support the bird’s body to fly. They also lack the proper keel bone which connects the flight muscles like that of other flying birds. Most males prepare a nest for the female to lay her eggs and will incubate the eggs instead of the female.

The Kiwi is the national bird of New Zealand and gets its name from the way its screech sounds. They are also similar in appearance to the Kivi in Alaska which is also known as the Bristle-Thighed Curlew. The five living species include the Great Spotted Kiwi which is the largest, Little Spotted Kiwi which is the smallest, Brown Kiwi, Tokoeka Kiwi, and North Island Brown Kiwi. These chicken-sized fowl have gray-brown feathers similiar to hair and do not have a tail. Their appearance resembles a ball of fur with strong, thick feet and legs, extremely long and thin beak, and whiskers. Like other flightless birds, Kiwis use their strong legs to fight predators. Its long, needle-like beak accounts for one third of its length and features nostrils at the tip. These nostrils provide an excellent sense of smell for finding food since this bird has very poor eyesight. This strange animal sleeps during the day and eats at night. Its diet consists of worms, spiders, insects, crayfish, frogs, grubs, leaves, berries, and seeds. The Kiwi’s body temperature is lower than most birds yet higher than humans. They tend to be shy and prefer to hide but can become violent and temperamental at times. The females are larger, dominate the males, and do most of the hunting. Male and female Kiwis mate for life which could reach thirty years. Instead of building a nest, the male digs a burrow with his strong feet for the female to lay her very large eggs. These eggs can weigh up to one quarter of her weight. The male incubates the eggs for 80 days which is longer than most birds.

The Australian Emu are excellent swimmers and runners thanks to their three toes. These large birds have soft brown-gray feathers which insulate and keep the animal cool in order to be active during the hottest of days. They are 59 to 75 inches tall and weigh 40 to 106 pounds. They have long necks like the ostrich and red eyes. Their diet consists of plants, grass, leaves, seeds, and insects. They also eat small stones and rocks to break up and aid the digestion of the plant life eaten. It is not uncommon for them to go weeks without food. This species does not mate for life. Their grunting calls can be heard over a mile away. The male prepares the nest for the female to lay her eggs which are approximately 5” x 3” and can weigh up to two pounds. The male incubates the eggs for 56 days.

The cassowary is smaller than the ostrich and emu and is found in New Guinea and Australia. These birds grow as tall as 59 to 71 inches and weigh up to 129 pounds. They also have three toes, but the middle toe is a claw which is used against predators. The female is larger and more colorful than the male with red eyes and a blue colored neck. Both the male and female are shy and reserved but will fight if cornered. These animals can run up to 50 mph and jump up to 4.5 feet. Their diet consists of fruit, grass, seeds, fungus, insects, flowers, frogs, birds, fish, and small rodents.

The only two species left of the South American Rhea is the Greater or American Rhea and Lesser or Darwin’s Rhea. This very large fowl sports gray-brown feathers and long legs and neck similar to an ostrich. The males can grow up to 4.5 feet tall and weigh 88 pounds. This bird also has three toes which provide fast running for long distances. They usually spread their wings when running to catch the wind. Their diet consists of plants, seeds, fruit, lizards, and insects. This bird does not mate for life and is usually quiet and reserved except during mating season. The male builds a nest for the female to lay her ten to sixty eggs which the male will incubate until they are hatched.

It is important to protect and preserve these and other rare animals in the world. It would be a shame if tomorrow’s children could only learn about these often strange animals from a textbook instead of viewing the actual animals.