Talk:Ostrich

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[edit] Predators

What are ostrich predators? Please write them below. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.161.243.121 (talk • contribs)

Lions, leopards, cheetahs, the like. but they're hard to catch because of their speed and strong kicks. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 61.230.72.211 (talk • contribs) 211.72.108.3 02:07, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Subspecies

If someone knows how the subspecies differ, please add that information as well. AxelBoldt 20:38, 26 Sep 2004 (UTC)

"The ostriches in Arabia and South-East Asia were hunted to extinction by the middle of the 20th century."
Er... are we sure that isn't southwest Asia? I may be wrong, but I've never heard of a Vietnamese ostrich. I assume it's an error, but without any definitive knowledge either way, I'm loath to change it. 129.2.211.72 05:07, 4 Oct 2004 (UTC)
Indeed so. But you might be interested to hear that there actually may have been Vietnamese ostriches (albeit only in the far north of that country). There was the Asian Ostrich which ranged all over Asia north of the Himalayas and the Caucasus and down southeastwards all over China, and it may have been a subspecies of the African Ostrich (the bones are more similar to those of the present bird than to any other fossil ostriches). It was well known to early humans, as ostrich cavepaintings and motifs on pottery from prehistoric China indicate. This bird went extinct some time in the Early Holocene (i.e. in the millennia following the end of the last ice age). Dysmorodrepanis 14:13, 6 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Eyesize?

Surely more than just whales have ostriches beat for eyesize (though not of land animals) because squid eyes are gigantic. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.47.38.130 (talk • contribs)

Giraffes must have the largest eyes of land mammals, but I don't know how large. The runner up is the horse, with smaller eyes than an ostrich. Giant squid eye size has been exaggerated, but they are the largest in the animal kingdom: the largest measured eyball was 18 cm (7 in.) in diameter, with a possible maximum of 20 cm (8 in.) for the largest females. Anshelm '77

[edit] Reproduction

Isn't it true that the ostrich is one of the rare birds with a penis? If so, that should be put in the reproduction section. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.47.38.130 (talk • contribs)


Yes, we should add that in as well because it is true. Ostrich's are one of the rare birds out there that have a penis. I also know that Ostrich penises are used as an aphrodisiac and also heard that Ostrich's can have sexual intercourse up to 10 times a day. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 211.136.74.16 (talk • contribs)

Does anyone know whether otrich eggs are the longest hatching eggs out of all birds? I am having trouble finding this out. Please leave a comment on my talk page if you know. Stabernathy 95 15:31, 12 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Ostrich (defense)

due to its prehistoric looks and sizehere as Wmany great tales regarding the ostriches ways of natural defenses have been mytholoical. the head in the sand being foremost of falsehoods is in fact a digestive process/gathering pebbles to grind foods such as roots berries, aand an occasionally cricket. Another miscostrued act, kicking is actually more of a scare tacktic than a readiness to battle technique if forced to take a stance against a predator (Cheetas,Leopards, and Jackals) it can deliver a kick hard en ough to break bones, they tend to refrain from the use all together on multiple hunters due to slow and clumsy recovery leaving them very weak and unbalanced. Their main predator the cheetah has the right tools neededto compete with the Ostriches great speed 75-80kmh, And 50-55kmh for up to an hour it relies on open flat areas an drareley takes to the water getting it through eating moist vegitation. Their overgrown and eyes have developed for the wide and clear view you might see through binoculars, but with two competely seperate but 120 times that of a human eye. Therefore other predators usually pass the long distanse attemt unless their are young or injured animals available. despite the cheetas speed, it lack in numbers and need to stay healthy to survive as solitary animal. If coronted face to face at a stand off the Cheetah will usually choose self preservation and return to the wary and usually lone bird hours later when because it was sought after by a predator, it will be pushed from the group for up to a day, it is thought that the others have figured over time that leaving one vulnerable is is of more safety to the healthiest birds. However if the ostich chooses his stance while the large cat is still in pursuit feeling he may connect is generally done by young bird without the knoledg that at a full run the cheetah capable of a 13-18m high up to 35m in length long Jugular piercing leap hadn't had a chance to even kick the cat for some 30-35 yards making the attempt rather futile in most circum stances. At up to thirty chickks to one mother and 4-5 mothers per male they rely heavily on breeding for the survival of the species. After all they have been around during the dinasour age making it a resourceful and attentive creature rather than having the size or fight of the Water buffalo, it runs but both do what they do right with approximate succesful suvival rate at 98% —Preceding unsigned comment added by 198.236.58.29 (talk • contribs)

[edit] Conservation Status

Someone please indicate the conservation status of this species! Redwolf24 23:44, 17 July 2005 (UTC)

  • They are not under threat, afaik. Common Man 07:08, 20 July 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Literary Critique

I would get fired from my job if I wrote as poorly (as of 8/17/05) as the primary contributor(s) to this wiki. C- writing here. I suggest that these persons work to preserve the grammar and style comments of random visiting editors. But I fully acknowledge that they have done most of the work and deserve most of the credit. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Mlprater (talk • contribs)

[edit] Should I add culinary properties of the meat?

As a chef I am familiar with the intrinsic properties of ostrich meat should I add that to this article or create a new one? --Rakista 23:06, 24 September 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Not the relatively smallest egg

Actually, the smallest bird egg in relation to the female's size is that of the Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) at 1.4 % (egg c. 400 g/14 oz, female c. 28 kg/62 lb), whereas the Ostrich's figure is said to be 1.7 % (egg 1.44 kg/3 lb 3 oz on average, suggesting a 85 kg/187 lb average for the female). The Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) also has the Ostrich beat at 1.5 %.

I'm not absolutely sure, where Cassowaries (Casuariidae) stand on this... Based on scarce bits of information, the egg of the Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) is c. 7 % larger (140 x 90 mm/5.51 x 3.54 in) than an Emu's egg (135 x 90 mm/5.31 x 3.54 in), the bird itself being c. 19 % heavier (65 kg/143 lb versus 54 kg/120 lb max. weight). Anshelm '77

[edit] Dinos

Should there be a comment on how Ostriches and other ratites are thought to be direct descendants of Dinosaurs, and of the first fossil record? 70.142.36.210 02:27, 9 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] weight correction

The article says the eggs can weigh 1.3kg, then goes on to say the average weight is 1.4kg. This needs to be corrected if anyone is familiar with egg mass.

--Victoria h 05:39, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

Well, based on a couple of studies on domesticated birds I found on the web, the average ostrich egg weighs 1.44 kg (3 lb 2¾ oz), with dimensions of 155 × 128 mm (6.10 × 5.04 in). The heaviest egg was 2.35 kg (5 lb 3 oz), layed on a Chinese ostrich farm. I don't know it's dimensions, but with typical proportions they should have been 182 × 151 mm (7.17 × 5.94 in). An egg of 2.222 kg (4 lb 14.38 oz) from a Polish farm measured 190 × 140 mm (7.48 × 5.51 in). The lightest weight I've seen was 755 g (1 lb 10.63 oz), suggesting dimensions of 125 × 103 mm (4.92 × 4.06 in) --Anshelm '77 17:28, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Hybrid

Can the ostrich be hybridized with any other ratite? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.237.253.19 (talk • contribs)

[edit] German featured article

If de:Ostrich can be a featured article, how many edits would it take to make the English version the same? What's the category for users who have en-1 and de-1 userboxes? Xaxafrad 01:24, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

I saw a Project Echo tag on another talk page (Liberalism, for the curious). I've added it here, and now I'll look for more candidates.... Xaxafrad 21:40, 15 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Evolution

I just removed the section on evolution (removed text appears below). The paragraph implies that there is some particularly significant similarity between ostriches and velociraptors, which simply isn't the case. Now I think about it, I suppose there might be a case for comparing ostriches to a much broader group of birdlike dinosaurs (the problem is, velociraptor is very specific, and ostriches more closely resemble other (non-carnivorous) birdlike dinosaurs), but I don't feel qualified to write that, so I'll leave it to someone else. I removed the section because it seems to me that as it stands all but the first line is misleading and therefore worse than useless. --Tremolo 00:36, 20 July 2006 (UTC)

Removed text: Evolution

 Please help improve this section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.

The ostrich is the largest member of the extant ratites.

The ostrich resemble velociraptors, though their ancestral phylogenetic homologies are probably too difficult to match or even locate. Another possibility is that their phenotypic similarities (i.e. quick running, shape of body) are a result of convergent evolutionary inheritances that were advantageous for their environments, that did not arise from the same branch point in phylogenetics or from horizontal gene transfer.


[edit] "Considered to be?"

Er... The text saying that the ostrich is "considered" the largest bird. Is there a certain precedent I'm missing? Is there a lesser-known bird that actually IS larger, but the ostrich gets all the credit? Is there a school of thought that uses a different bird-measurement system? Either it is the largest bird or it isn't; I don't think there's room for consideration here. Ergo, I'm removing the ambiguity. Feel free to change it if I'm actually wrong. Nevah 23:06, 2 August 2006 (UTC)

Some people insist that a few New Zealand moa survive. In that very unlikely case, the ostrich would not be the largest bird. So "considered" might be an appropriate word. Cranston Lamont 23:15, 4 September 2006 (UTC)
Has no bearing on the matter, because the moa survival issue is always concerned just with the smaller species. The giant Dinornis were long gone by 1500 AD. Dysmorodrepanis 14:14, 6 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Brain size

I wonder what's the brain size of an ostrich. I heard Jack Hanna on Larry King say "as small as a grain of sand", which cannot possibly be true! Snapple caps say "smaller than their eye", which sounds plausible considering their small head with huge eyes :) -- and they look so smart with those huge intelligent eyes :)


Having visited 'Ostrich World', a nature park which specifies in ostriches, I have found that an ostrich's brain is the size of a pea. However I do not have any evidence to back this up. jammi_f 21:13, 26 October 2006 (UTC)


[edit] Top Speed

All this talk about a bird that runs and no mention of a top speed? :( Roffler 23:28, 9 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Head burying

Do you really need citation for the fact that burying an ostrich's head in the ground will suffocate it? This seems like a given. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 206.116.28.142 (talk) 17:14, 13 January 2007 (UTC).

[edit] text illegible (small) in distribution map graphic

In the "taxobox" graphic showing present-day range on map, the names of subspecies are too small/unclear to be legible without enlarging image. I have not a lot of Wikipedia experience and no experience editing nature articles so I did not want to boldly make a size change since the taxobox width might be standard. I did look at the Birds project page and the example of the taxobox there did not include such tiny text as on this page. but perhaps this is an issue that needs to be discussed at a level higher than that of an article. Maybe it is considered OK to have to open graphics in a separate window in order to see text on charts etc? but i just thought I would point this out. Wichienmaat 03:17, 1 April 2007 (UTC)

I upped the image size, it's a bit more legible now. The problem being the width affects the length which affects the box size which can throw off the arrangement of pictures in the article itself. The article is pretty picture-heavy and it's hard to get them all to line up nicely, but it seems to be OK as is. That being said, if others feel like changing it further, I'm happy to see their ideas. WLU 19:33, 1 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] does an ostrich have rabies?

my friend have just recently,of not contented to take for granted,after he had been scratched by an ostrich in zoo at the tourist spot in province of our country...so i decided to research and know how will it be treated if an ostrich have a Rabies.

thanks for the open discussion of this site.More power —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 124.217.13.242 (talk) 12:15, 2 April 2007 (UTC).

I think you're fine. Rabies wouldnt be in its toenails, only in saliva and stuff. I mean, they say raccoon scratches can give you rabies, but those guys are likely to have recently licked their paws, unlike the ostrich. You could prolly get a nasty infection, though. ... of course surely by now you've been to a doctor...

[edit] Species Status

If the current consensus is that the Somali Ostrich is a distinct species, Why does the article not reflect this? There is a short mention of the concept, but other than that, the article treats them both as one (example: the Taxobox mentions Struthio camelus but not Struthio molybdophanes). The Taxobox should go to Genus level, but not species level (rather, mentioning both species underneath instead). - 01:22, 20 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Froot Loops

Is the trivia on a box of breakfast cereal [1] really considered to be a valid citation? -Dayv 15:25, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

Yes.

[edit] Struthio

If 'struthio camelus' means camel-sparrow, then struthio means sparrow? I find this weird since all 'struthio' words refer to the ostrich (struthiomimus, the ostrich-shaped dinosaur, and struthiolaria, the ostrich-foot mollusc)

[edit] Usage of Ostrich Feathers in Industry

Under the section "Ostriches and Humans" I would like to see added:

OSTRICH FEATHER DUSTERS —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Physche (talk • contribs) 05:56:14, August 19, 2007 (UTC).

In addition to the function of the Ostrich feather in clothing, costumes, decorations etc., it might be noted that one of the most useful contributions of the Ostrich feather to industry is its use in feather dusters. The original South African Ostrich Feather Dusters were invented in Johannesburg, South Africa by missionary, broom factory manager, Harry S. Beckner in 1903.

The first Ostrich Feather Dusters were wound on broom handles using the foot powered kick winder and the same wire used to attach broom straw. Ostrich feathers were sorted for quality, color and length before being wound in three layers to the handle. The first layer was wound with the feathers curving inward to hide the head of the handle. The second two layers were wound curving outward to give it a full figure and its trademark flower shape.

The First Ostrich Feather Duster Company in the United States was formed in 1913 by Harry S. Beckner and his brother George Beckner in Athol Massachusetts and has survived till this day as the Beckner Feather Duster Company under the care of George Beckner's great granddaughter, Margret Fish Rempher. Today the largest manufacturer of Ostrich Feather Dusters is Texas Feathers (TxF)which is located in Arlington Texas.

Young apprentices still use the manual kick winder to learn the trade of building the hand crafted Ostrich Feather Duster. However, to expedite the manufacturing process, factories now allow veteran craftsman to use electric powered winders to build the duster. Building an Ostrich feather duster can be a dangerous. The wire is under tension that is strong enough to sever a finger if it were to get caught between the handle and the wire.

The Ostrich feather is unique in its durability, softness and flexibility which accounts for the success of the Ostrich feather duster over the last 100 years. Because the feather does not zipper together it is prone to developing a static charge which actually attracts and holds dust which can then be shaken out or washed off. Because of its similar makeup to human hair, care of the ostrich feather requires only an occasional shampoo and towel or air dry.

Physche 05:25, 19 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Why would they raise others' young?

That seems anti-evolutionary. Any possible motives? 66.65.136.117 14:07, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

Male ostriches rear the eggs laid by the females in his own harem, all of which he mated with. Where did you hear about this?--Mr Fink 14:54, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Ostrich (6 votes) wins collaboration for October 2007

Nominated September 3, 2007;

Support:

  1. Sabine's Sunbird talk 08:01, 3 September 2007 (UTC)
  2. Jude. 00:04, 4 September 2007 (UTC)
  3. Shyamal 04:17, 4 September 2007 (UTC)
  4. Rufous-crowned Sparrow 08:16, 18 September 2007 (EST)
  5. cheers, Casliber (talk · contribs) 00:18, 19 September 2007 (UTC)
  6. Firsfron of Ronchester 00:58, 19 September 2007 (UTC)

Comments:

We don't have any featured or GAs for Africa, and this is the biggest bird and a famous one. Sabine's Sunbird talk 08:01, 3 September 2007 (UTC)

Sorry, Kea fans, but I have to switch my vote to Ostrich. We just did a parrot article in the last month, we do need to expand our global coverage, and the Ostrich is one of the most famous birds. Rufous-crowned Sparrow 00:14, 19 September 2007 (UTC)
Agree -Emu is Featured, so a ratites featured topic?...oh dear that opens up a taxonomic can of worms doesn't it.....cheers, Casliber (talk · contribs) 00:18, 19 September 2007 (UTC)
Per Sabine, Rufous, and Cas Firsfron of Ronchester 00:58, 19 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Number of eggs a year

Anyone have a reliable source for the number of eggs laid a year? Various random sites on the web say anywhere from 10-100 which seems like quite a range. -Ravedave (talk) 01:17, 7 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Nutritional extra eggs

W. R. Ogilvie-Grant (1921) Guide to the gallery of birds. Pat 1. British Museum. (2nd Edn) (available on www.archive.org) says this about Ostrich egg laying: "The hens belonging to one male lay their eggs in the same nest, which is a shallow excavation dug in the sand. As many as thirty eggs are sometimes deposited in the pit, and many more are dropped around which are said to serve as food for the newly-hatched young. The contents of an egg are equal to about two dozen hen's eggs." Nutritional eggs are seen in frogs for instance - the Bromeliad frogs - perhaps there is some newer material supporting or denying this old idea. Shyamal (talk) 01:49, 15 February 2008 (UTC)