The Zoospecies · habitats · children's zoo · care
Catalog · Aves · Struthioniformes · Struthionidae · African savanna
Zoology of the ZooPl. XI

Common ostrich

Struthio camelus
Aves · Struthioniformes · Struthionidae
Fig. 1. Common ostrich
Fig. 2. Range
North AmericaSouth AmericaEuropeAfricaAsiaAustraliaAntarcticarange, sketched
Length or heightUp to about 2.7 m tall
WeightAbout 100-150 kg
FoodOmnivore, mostly plants
LifespanAbout 40 years
SocietyFlocks
Habitatsavanna, desert
RangeAfrica
Wild or tameFarmed for feathers, leather and meat

The largest living bird; it cannot fly but can run about 70 km/h.

Observe: Look at the two-toed foot built for running.

Modern data

Status today

LCLeast concern status to verify
ConservationLeast concern.
Keeper's noteDaily checks of appetite, movement and behavior; enrichment that changes from day to day.
Kingdom · phylumAnimalia · Chordata
GenusStruthio

Check the record: IUCN Red List · GBIF · ITIS

See it elsewhere in the museum

For classes

Lessons: The Mammal Hall: From shrew to whalePreviewThe Mammal Hall: Predict the dietPreviewThe Living Earth: The Habitat Field GuidePreview

Drawer: Zoo: African savanna

Quiz: African savanna quiz · 5 questions

Picture gallery

Tap a picture to enlarge it. Every picture is public domain or openly licensed, credited below, and kept on our own server.

Wilfredor · Wikimedia Commons · CC0
H. Zell · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Roger Culos · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Giles Laurent · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Charles J. Sharp · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
H. Zell · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
H. Zell · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
H. Zell · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0