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Anatomy of an Ostrich
Ostriches, like all ratites, are flightless, although they do possess wings. The ostrich has
a large breast plate that covers the thoracic area and protects the heart and liver. There
is no keel and thus, no location for the attachment of flight muscles. The heart, lungs
and liver are in the thoracic cavity.
Digestion The ostrich does not have a gall bladder or crop but instead has a glandular stomach called a proventriculus. This stomach empties into a muscular stomach called the ventriculus. The ventriculus contains grit, rocks and other material that helps break down food and allows it to pass into the small intestine.
Because the intestine of the ostrich is abnormally long, the amount of time necessary for food to pass thorough it is also long (36 hours). As in most birds, ostriches posses a cloaca which is a common site for excretion by the urinary tract and the digestive tract.
Respiratory The respiratory system of ostrich as with all birds, consists of lungs, and a system of air sacs that originate in the thorax and extend into the hollow bones. Not all bones are hollow and some, including the lower leg, have a thick cortex.
Ostrich can use the air sac system to reduce body heat by panting. The normal respiratory rate of an ostrich is between 7 and 12 breaths/minute.
Reproduction The reproductive tract of the male ostrich consists of two testicles. The male phallus or penis is located in the ventral cloaca but unlike mammals, does not contain the urethra.
The female reproductive tract consists of a single ovary and reproductive tract with a small clitoris located on the ventral cloaca.
Miscellaneous Ostrich have two toes (emu and rhea have 3). The larger clawed toe is actually the third digit while the smaller claw less toe is the fourth digit.
The nostrils of ostrich are located forward on the beak, rather than at the base of the beak as in most birds. The trachea or wind pipe is large and located in the lower part of the mouth.
The esophagus is above the tracheal opening and extends down the right side of the neck. There is one large jugular vein that runs down the right side of the neck.
Biology Ostriches are ratites, a group that includes all species of flightless birds:
Ostriches have two toes, are well adapted for running and can easily attain speeds of up to 40 m.p.h.
Kicking is the major means of defense. African Red necks and African Blue necks (principally wild ostriches) also peck and bite when threatened.
The gastrointestinal tract of the ostrich is very long (approximately 26 feet in an adult) with large, paired caeca. The large intestine or colon comprises almost 60 percent of the total length.
Species Ostriches come in several colors, each representing a different subspecies or group of subspecies.
The African Black Domestic Ostrich is a hybrid produced by selective breeding from blue and red species.
The Red neck Ostrich is from east Africa (Tanzania and Kenya) and is a wild Ostrich.
The Blue neck Ostrich is one of three species native to north, west or south Africa and is also a wild ostrich.
The African Black Domestic Ostrich is shorter, smaller and has darker feathers than other species. It has little skin colour and is the most docile of all living ostriches.
Red neck males have creamy white skin on the thighs and neck except during breeding season when the skin of the entire leg and neck turns a bright pinkish red.
Blue neck males have blue-gray skin on the neck, legs and thighs; only the fronts of the shanks turn red during the breeding season. The adult female Blue neck has blue-gray skin, while the Red neck female is creamy white. The adult male plumage is black with white, while the female plumage is a light gray to gray-brown.
Red neck and Blue neck ostriches live an estimated 20 to 30 years in the wild. African Black Domestic Ostriches have been reported to live and reproduce for up to 50 years.
An ostrich will reach adult height between 18 and 20 months of age and continue to gain weight for a few months after that.
Adult height is 7 to 9 feet tall. Weight varies from 200 to 350 pounds.
Birds are slaughtered at 10 to 14 months of age. They enter puberty at approximately 15 to 16 months and internally created hormones add both toughness and undesirous chemicals into the meat muscles. Birds should weigh at least 250 pounds at slaughtering date.
Digestion The ostrich does not have a gall bladder or crop but instead has a glandular stomach called a proventriculus. This stomach empties into a muscular stomach called the ventriculus. The ventriculus contains grit, rocks and other material that helps break down food and allows it to pass into the small intestine.
Because the intestine of the ostrich is abnormally long, the amount of time necessary for food to pass thorough it is also long (36 hours). As in most birds, ostriches posses a cloaca which is a common site for excretion by the urinary tract and the digestive tract.
Respiratory The respiratory system of ostrich as with all birds, consists of lungs, and a system of air sacs that originate in the thorax and extend into the hollow bones. Not all bones are hollow and some, including the lower leg, have a thick cortex.
Ostrich can use the air sac system to reduce body heat by panting. The normal respiratory rate of an ostrich is between 7 and 12 breaths/minute.
Reproduction The reproductive tract of the male ostrich consists of two testicles. The male phallus or penis is located in the ventral cloaca but unlike mammals, does not contain the urethra.
The female reproductive tract consists of a single ovary and reproductive tract with a small clitoris located on the ventral cloaca.
Miscellaneous Ostrich have two toes (emu and rhea have 3). The larger clawed toe is actually the third digit while the smaller claw less toe is the fourth digit.
The nostrils of ostrich are located forward on the beak, rather than at the base of the beak as in most birds. The trachea or wind pipe is large and located in the lower part of the mouth.
The esophagus is above the tracheal opening and extends down the right side of the neck. There is one large jugular vein that runs down the right side of the neck.
Biology Ostriches are ratites, a group that includes all species of flightless birds:
- Ostrich
- Emu
- Rhea
- Cassowary
- Kiwi
Ostriches have two toes, are well adapted for running and can easily attain speeds of up to 40 m.p.h.
Kicking is the major means of defense. African Red necks and African Blue necks (principally wild ostriches) also peck and bite when threatened.
The gastrointestinal tract of the ostrich is very long (approximately 26 feet in an adult) with large, paired caeca. The large intestine or colon comprises almost 60 percent of the total length.
Species Ostriches come in several colors, each representing a different subspecies or group of subspecies.
The African Black Domestic Ostrich is a hybrid produced by selective breeding from blue and red species.
The Red neck Ostrich is from east Africa (Tanzania and Kenya) and is a wild Ostrich.
The Blue neck Ostrich is one of three species native to north, west or south Africa and is also a wild ostrich.
The African Black Domestic Ostrich is shorter, smaller and has darker feathers than other species. It has little skin colour and is the most docile of all living ostriches.
Red neck males have creamy white skin on the thighs and neck except during breeding season when the skin of the entire leg and neck turns a bright pinkish red.
Blue neck males have blue-gray skin on the neck, legs and thighs; only the fronts of the shanks turn red during the breeding season. The adult female Blue neck has blue-gray skin, while the Red neck female is creamy white. The adult male plumage is black with white, while the female plumage is a light gray to gray-brown.
Red neck and Blue neck ostriches live an estimated 20 to 30 years in the wild. African Black Domestic Ostriches have been reported to live and reproduce for up to 50 years.
An ostrich will reach adult height between 18 and 20 months of age and continue to gain weight for a few months after that.
Adult height is 7 to 9 feet tall. Weight varies from 200 to 350 pounds.
Birds are slaughtered at 10 to 14 months of age. They enter puberty at approximately 15 to 16 months and internally created hormones add both toughness and undesirous chemicals into the meat muscles. Birds should weigh at least 250 pounds at slaughtering date.