Emu

Emu Emus are flightless birds that are found all over Australia. They are suspected to be roaming the earth for 80 million years and in times when dinosaurs roamed aswell. Their diet consists of grasses, seeds, flowers and insects. In vast waterless conditions( mainly desert) emus hold the trait of being able to know when the rain is coming and travel hundreds of kilometer for water.

The breeding season for emus is usually within the winter months ( may to august) although they find their mates in the summer months( December to January). Emus conduct internal fertilization. During severe drought emus may not breed at all or if they do females only lay a few eggs in hope for survival. In good conditions the female lays up to 20 eggs ( the eggs are large and dark green weight half a kilo). As soon as the female lays the eggs the male incubates them for 2 months and does not leave the nest during this period. He survives on accumulated body fat, loosing up to one third of his body weight. During this time the female may go and lay eggs with another male. When the eggs hatch the male continues to look after them for another 6 weeks until they mature.



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