Ostrich Facts

About the ostrich

Two species exist today: the Somali ostrich of the Horn of Africa and the common ostrich, found over much of Sub-Saharan Africa. Adult common ostriches weigh between 63.5 and 145 kg, and they lay the biggest eggs of any living land animal. They belong to the ratites, flightless or weak-flying birds that also include emus, cassowaries, rheas, kiwi and tinamous, plus the extinct moa and elephant birds.

People have farmed them worldwide, with big industries in Namibia and the Philippines. South Africa makes about 70% of the world's ostrich products, mostly around the town of Oudtshoorn. The leather sells well, the big feathers decorate ceremonial headgear, and the eggs, meat and oil all get used. Long ago, ostriches also lived on the Arabian Peninsula and across Asia to China and Mongolia.

Did you know?

• Scientists place ostriches in the order Struthioniformes, genus Struthio.
• Ostrich oil is one more product, and it is made from the birds' fat.
• Humans have used ostrich eggs and meat for thousands of years.