The African ostrich is the largest bird on Earth and the only bird with two toes. It measures approximately 183-300 cm in length, 240-280 cm in height, and weighs 130-150 kg, with females being slightly smaller. Its proportions are unusual; it stands 2.5 meters tall and weighs over 150 kg. Its round body is topped with a 90 cm long neck and two 1-meter-long thighs. The neck and thighs are unusually small compared to the body, resembling a giant dumpling with three toothpicks stuck in it.
The ostrich is the largest bird on Earth and a flightless bird. In biological classification, it is the only species in the family Stolonidae. Male ostriches can reach up to 2.5 meters in height and weigh up to 155 kg, while females, though smaller, can still grow to 1.9 meters and weigh over 100 kg. Ostriches are roosting birds and belong to the class of flat-chested birds; therefore, although they possess a sternum, their keel is not well-developed.
Historically, the earliest contact between humans and ostriches can be traced back to ancient Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon, where there are records of ostrich feather trade.
Ostrich meat is edible and resembles beef in appearance, but has a more delicate texture, making it a specialty dish in many high-end restaurants. Ostrich meat is rich in nutrients, high in amino acids, low in calories and cholesterol, and also contains significant amounts of iron, zinc, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The iron content of ostrich meat is higher than that of the same weight of beef, and its zinc content is twice that of the same weight of oysters.
Ostriches are the only birds in the world with two toes. They originally had three toes, but their habit of running on land over the years caused their second and third toes to gradually merge, leaving them with only two toes. This is a unique result of ostrich adaptation and evolution. To escape sudden dangers, they must run faster and sometimes must change direction abruptly to avoid predators. Two-toed feet are superior to three-toed feet in terms of grip, acceleration, and turning ability after a sudden stop.
Ostriches are distributed across a wide area of Africa, mainly inhabiting savanna areas, but also living in desert areas and steppes; there are five wild subspecies, of which the Arabian ostrich is extinct, and there is also a domesticated ostrich species.
In the wild, ostriches live for about 30-40 years, while captive ostriches live very long, up to 50-60 years old.
Ostriches are good runners; they have strong, powerful thighs and unique two-toed feet that give them the ability to accelerate quickly. They can reach a top speed of 65 km/h, and each stride can cover a distance of 6-8 meters. They also have great endurance, able to run continuously for 20-30 minutes.
The main predators of adult ostriches are lions and cheetahs. Due to their incredible speed and stamina, many predators are exhausted before they can even catch an ostrich. For predators, an ostrich is an extremely delicious meal, but the process of hunting one is also fraught with danger, and often deadly.
