#doublewattledcassowary

[wadttinstagram]

Cassowary have many stunning and intimidating features - bright coloration, immense size, and a giant talon on each powerful foot - but nothing compares to the regal profile created by the crests on the top of their heads. Called “casques”, the function of these hard, keratinized structures has long been debated by scientists, but a recent thermal imagery may have offered an answer. Many birds in tropical climates have developed areas of their bodies that are full of little blood vessels and not covered by feathers; these “thermal windows” help them vent excess heat from their bodies. In many birds, that structure is the beak - but in cassowary, it appears to be the #casques that help them stay cool! #ratite #doublewattledcassowary #bigbird #adaptations #tropicalstyle #thermalwindows (at Houston Zoo) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzDxkjvBhWB/?igshid=17kfkf2zu32b2

[quickwitter]

SOUTHERN CASSOWARY Casuarius casuarius ©Laura Quick Cassowaries are closely related to the kiwis, both families diverging from a common ancestor approximately 40 million years ago. They have a reputation for being fierce and able to kill with ease, mostly however, they are shy, easily startled seed dispersers. The male builds a nest on the ground, a mattress of herbaceous plant material 5 to 10 centimetres (2–4 in) thick and up to 100 centimetres (39 in) wide. The female shows up, is courted, mates and lays the eggs. Then she leaves, often to be courted by another male. Meanwhile, the male incubates the eggs and raises the chicks alone. A clutch of three or four eggs are laid measuring 138 by 95 millimetres (5.4 in × 3.7 in). They have a granulated surface and are initially bright pea-green in color although they fade with age. The casque on the top of its head is made of keratin, hollow, and helps protect the bird as it runs through foliage. #southerncassowary #doublewattledcassowary #©lauraquick #birds #animals #birdsofinstagram #casuariuscasuarius #australia #indonesia #southeastasia #newguinea #wildlifeloverseverywhere #leastconcern #wildlifephotography #wildlifelover #wildlife_photography #wildlife #paternalcare #nomaternalcare #flightlessbird #casuariiformes #casque #keratin #losangelesphotographer #losangeleszoo #lazoo #glaza #losangeleszooandbotanicalgardens https://www.instagram.com/p/B8jwsJNH_Nt/?igshid=bsyblby3n9hl