The Australian continent is rich in its unique flora and fauna. It is in Australia that you can find species of animals and birds that do not live on other continents of the planet. The emu bird is one of the unique creatures that are representatives of the Australian continent.
Emu is an Australian wingless bird, the second largest of all living birds. In their size and appearance, emus are somewhat reminiscent of ostriches. Despite the size, the wings of the emu are shorter than that of the crows, so a dense layer of brownish feathers completely hides them. The head and neck of the birds are dark gray. The emu has two pairs of eyelids: one for blinking and the other for keeping dust out.
Like ostriches, emus are very fast birds. Taking almost three-meter steps, they cover long distances. The emus are protected by a large three-toed paw: on each paw there is a large claw, with which a bird can easily kill a person.
Females lay up to twenty dark green eggs with granular shells, and males hatch offspring for about two months. Chicks are born with longitudinal stripes on the back, which disappear when the emu reaches five months of age.
Although emus can adapt to different conditions, they prefer to avoid harsh deserts and deep forests. Emus do not consume water, but must consume it every day. On very hot days, they breathe quickly, using their lungs as evaporative coolers. Their wide nasal passages have intricate folds that are used in cold weather to recycle air and create moisture for reuse.
Gathering in large flocks, emus often destroyed crops and pastures, which is why farmers used to hunt them. Now the emu is protected by the law.