Welcome to brain Stuff production of I Heart Radio, Hey brain Stuff, Lauren Bola bomb Here. There are about eighteen thousand species of birds in the world. Of those EMUs, the long limbed, long necked Australian natives are the world's second largest by height. Here's the skinny on these gangly avians. Emos are ratites, meaning they're large, flightless birds with a solid,
flat stern um. They're related to other ratites found in southern hemispheric locations, the ostrich in Africa, which takes the title of the largest bird in the world, the Rhea in South America, the cassowary in Australia, and the Kiwi in New Zealand. EMUs and ostriches have the most obvious similarities with their long legs and necks. They're also both very fast runners. Imus can run up to about thirty miles or fifty kilometers per hour, but there are some
differences they're tos. For example, Imus have three toes. The ostrich is the only bird with just two toes. Another major difference is their wings. Ostriches have beautiful long wings that aren't always visible because they're covering their bodies. For the article, this episode is based on how stuff works. Spoke with Eric Slovak, Assistant Curator of Birds for Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, d C. He explained ostriches use them when they're doing a courtship dance or when they're
running really fast. They can use their wings like a boat's rudder to change direction quickly, and those wings are a necessity living around African predators because they need to be able to change direction on a dime with something like a lion chasing it. Conversely, emo wings are very small, probably just two to four inches that's five to times long. Predators are less of an issue for imus. Their main predators,
dingoes are easily outrun by most emu's except juveniles. EMO height averages about five points seven feet or one eight meters. Males can wait anywhere from a hundred and ten to d and twenty pounds that's about fifty to fifty five kilos, and females typically weigh about ten pounds or four kilos more than that. Their feathers are grayish brown, but lightened during the season. Chicks have natural camouflage. Their feathers are striped in black, brown and cream to blend into tall
grass and foliage. During breeding season, which is during the Australian winter months June, July and August, both male and female EMUs make loud, low grunting sounds. Once the male and female mate, and the female lays her eggs in their nest low indentation on the ground lined with leaves, grass and bark, the male takes over completely. Slovak said, males sit on the eggs and do all the incubation. When the eggs hatch, they are the sole parent. As
a dat myself, I loved that about EMUs. The incubation period is fifty six days and Papa Emu doesn't eat, drink, or even poop while he sits on nest. His entire focus is on protecting the eggs. When the chicks hatch, he's well ready to show down and he shows his chicks where to get their food and water. Chicks are ready to start eating, drinking, and adventuring about twenty four to forty eight hours after they're born, but they usually hang out with their dad for about four months before
striking out on their own. EMUs are only found in the wild in Australia, though at some point they may have lived in Tasmania or King Island. They are wanderers. Flocks are called mobs, and they roam everywhere, from eucalyptus forests to desert troubland to sandy plains. Thanks to their ranging tendencies, relations between EMUs and farmers haven't always been cordial. In fact, in two the Australian government launched the Emu War against the entire species and attempt to control the
population by killing them with grenades and machine guns. The failed war ended with only twelve emu's killed. The government installed thousand kilometer fence that's about one thousand, six hundred miles to separate the EMUs from the grain producing areas in southwest Australia. In the wild, imus are omnivores, eating all sorts of plants in season. They'll also eat insects and small vertebrates like lizards. They eat large pebbles called gaster liths to help their gizzard grind their food. But
can imus be eaten? The short answer is yes. Emu meat has been a popular food source in India and Australia four thousands of years. In many places, imus are farmed not only for meat, but for oil, leather, and feathers, and the massive egg of the emu is a dark emerald green and shell color. Weighs a little over a pound or about half a kilo, and is the equivalent of some ten chicken eggs. If you've ever wondered whether EMUs would make a good pet, the answer is it
depends on the person and the emu. While attacks on humans are rare and fatality is even less common, these are quite sizeable birds, fully capable of eviscerating even large animals with their big, three clawed feet. While they're friendly and inquisitive, imus should definitely be treated with respect and caution.
They need plenty of room to roam and graze, sturdy fencing at least five feet or one point five meters high, commercial rat tite pellets, proper housing in the winter that is warm and covered, and proper veterinary care, including at least an annual checkup and vaccinations for things like West Nile virus. Beyond that, Slovak said, all birds have their
unique personalities, and just like humans do. I can put emu in a box and say this is all the things about EMUs, but there are definitely personality traits that come into play. There's no better example of this than Darwin and Imo that lived at Smithsonian's National Zoo. Sadly, Darwin fell ill and had to be humanely euthanized in but he lived a long and very happy life while at the National Zoo. Accord into Slovak, he said, Darwin was not food motivated. He didn't care if you had
a treat or not. He just wanted to be your buddy. Darwin loved people. When you came to the exhibit, he was curious and wanted to know what you were doing, if you were mowing the lawn, cleaning the pool, or changing the straw. He wanted to be with you. Today's episode is based on the article goofy looking EMUs are luggy, flightless, and very friendly on how stuff works dot Com, written by Patty res Musin. Brain Stuff is production of I Heart Radio in partnership with how stuff works dot Com
and is produced by Tyler Clang. Four more podcasts for my heart Radio, visit the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.