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The South African ostrich (Struthio camelus australis), also known as the black-necked ostrich, Cape ostrich or southern ostrich is a subspecies of the common ostrich endemic to Southern Africa. It is widely farmed for its meat, eggs and feathers.
South African ostrich | |||
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Male at Cape of Good Hope, South Africa | |||
Female at Etosha National Park, Namibia | |||
Scientific classification | |||
Domain: | Eukaryota | ||
Kingdom: | Animalia | ||
Phylum: | Chordata | ||
Class: | Aves | ||
Infraclass: | Palaeognathae | ||
Order: | Struthioniformes | ||
Family: | Struthionidae | ||
Genus: | Struthio | ||
Species: | |||
Subspecies: | S. c. australis
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Trinomial name | |||
Struthio camelus australis | |||
Struthio camelus distribution map
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Habitat and distribution edit
The South African ostrich is found in South Africa, Namibia, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola and Botswana.[1] It lives in south of the rivers Zambezi and Cunene.
Threats edit
It is farmed for its eggs, meat, leather and feathers in the Little Karoo area of Cape Province.
References edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Struthio camelus australis.
Wikispecies has information related to Struthio camelus australis.
- ^ Jarvis, M. J. F.; Jarvis, C.; Keffen, R. H. (1985-10-01). "Breeding seasons and laying patterns of the southern African Ostrich Struthio camelus". Ibis. 127 (4): 442–449. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1985.tb04840.x. ISSN 1474-919X.