Ostriches (Struthio) are a genus of large, flightless birds. They belong to the family Struthionidae, whose German common name is the same as the genus, and the order Struthioniformes. Both the family and the order are considered monotypic in the present day. These birds are found in the relatively arid regions of Africa. Historically, they were also present on the Arabian Peninsula, where they were exterminated in the 1960s. Two living species are distinguished today: the Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus) and the Somali Ostrich (Struthio molybdophanes).
Besides their enormous body size, which makes ostriches the largest living birds, their large, bulky body, long and mostly featherless neck, similarly featherless legs, and small head are distinctive features. Unique among birds is the reduction of the number of toes on each foot to two. This is a special adaptation to life in open...Ostriches (Struthio) are a genus of large, flightless birds. They belong to the family Struthionidae, whose German common name is the same as the genus, and the order Struthioniformes. Both the family and the order are considered monotypic in the present day. These birds are found in the relatively arid regions of Africa. Historically, they were also present on the Arabian Peninsula, where they were exterminated in the 1960s. Two living species are distinguished today: the Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus) and the Somali Ostrich (Struthio molybdophanes).
Besides their enormous body size, which makes ostriches the largest living birds, their large, bulky body, long and mostly featherless neck, similarly featherless legs, and small head are distinctive features. Unique among birds is the reduction of the number of toes on each foot to two. This is a special adaptation to life in open...Die Strauße (Struthio) sind eine Gattung großer, flugunfähiger Vögel. Sie stehen innerhalb der Familie der Struthionidae, deren deutscher Trivialname gleichlautend zur Gattung ist, und der Ordnung der Struthioniformes. Sowohl Familie als auch Ordnung gelten als rezent monotypisch. Die Vögel kommen in den relativ ariden Gebieten in Afrika vor. In historischer Zeit waren sie auch auf der Arabischen Halbinsel präsent, wo sie in den 1960er Jahren ausgerottet wurden. Es werden zwei heute lebende Arten unterschieden, der Afrikanische Strauß (Struthio camelus) und der Somalistrauß (Struthio molybdophanes).
Neben der enormen Körpergröße, die den Straußen den Status der größten rezenten Vögel verleiht, bilden der große plumpe Körper, der lange und weitgehend unbefiederte Hals, ebensolche Beine sowie der kleine Kopf besondere Kennzeichen. Einzigartig unter den Vögeln ist die Reduktion der Zehenanzahl der Füße auf je zwei Strahlen. Dies ist eine besondere Anpassung an das Leben in den offenen
Strauss Portrait
Ostriches (Struthio) are a genus of large, flightless birds. They belong to the family Struthionidae, whose German common name is the same as the genus, and the order Struthioniformes. Both the family and the order are considered monotypic in the present day. These birds are found in the relatively arid regions of Africa. Historically, they were also present on the Arabian Peninsula, where they were exterminated in the 1960s. Two living species are distinguished today: the Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus) and the Somali Ostrich (Struthio molybdophanes).Besides their enormous body size, which makes ostriches the largest living birds, their large, bulky body, long and mostly featherless neck, similarly featherless legs, and small head are distinctive features. Unique among birds is the reduction of the number of toes on each foot to two. This is a special adaptation to life in open...Ostriches (Struthio) are a genus of large, flightless birds. They belong to the family Struthionidae, whose German common name is the same as the genus, and the order Struthioniformes. Both the family and the order are considered monotypic in the present day. These birds are found in the relatively arid regions of Africa. Historically, they were also present on the Arabian Peninsula, where they were exterminated in the 1960s. Two living species are distinguished today: the Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus) and the Somali Ostrich (Struthio molybdophanes).
Besides their enormous body size, which makes ostriches the largest living birds, their large, bulky body, long and mostly featherless neck, similarly featherless legs, and small head are distinctive features. Unique among birds is the reduction of the number of toes on each foot to two. This is a special adaptation to life in open...Die Strauße (Struthio) sind eine Gattung großer, flugunfähiger Vögel. Sie stehen innerhalb der Familie der Struthionidae, deren deutscher Trivialname gleichlautend zur Gattung ist, und der Ordnung der Struthioniformes. Sowohl Familie als auch Ordnung gelten als rezent monotypisch. Die Vögel kommen in den relativ ariden Gebieten in Afrika vor. In historischer Zeit waren sie auch auf der Arabischen Halbinsel präsent, wo sie in den 1960er Jahren ausgerottet wurden. Es werden zwei heute lebende Arten unterschieden, der Afrikanische Strauß (Struthio camelus) und der Somalistrauß (Struthio molybdophanes).
Neben der enormen Körpergröße, die den Straußen den Status der größten rezenten Vögel verleiht, bilden der große plumpe Körper, der lange und weitgehend unbefiederte Hals, ebensolche Beine sowie der kleine Kopf besondere Kennzeichen. Einzigartig unter den Vögeln ist die Reduktion der Zehenanzahl der Füße auf je zwei Strahlen. Dies ist eine besondere Anpassung an das Leben in den offenen