name: Ostrich
flavor_db_name_variants: ostrich
source: foodb
status: draft
food_db_id: Ostrich
id: 422
name_scientific: Struthio camelus
description: The Ostrich or Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus) is either one or two species of large flightless birds native to Africa, the only living member(s) of the genus Struthio, which is in the ratite family. Some analyses indicate that the Somali Ostrich may be better considered a full species separate from the Common Ostrich, but most taxonomists consider it to be a subspecies. The ostrich shares the order Struthioniformes with the kiwis, emus, rheas, and cassowaries. It is distinctive in its appearance, with a long neck and legs, and can run at up to about 70Â km/h, the fastest land speed of any bird. The ostrich is the largest living species of bird and lays the largest eggs of any living bird (extinct elephant birds of Madagascar and the giant moa of New Zealand laid larger eggs). The ostrich's diet consists mainly of plant matter, though it also eats invertebrates. It lives in nomadic groups of 5 to 50 birds. When threatened, the ostrich will either hide itself by lying flat against the ground, or run away. If cornered, it can attack with a kick of its powerful legs. Mating patterns differ by geographical region, but territorial males fight for a harem of two to seven females. The ostrich is farmed around the world, particularly for its feathers, which are decorative and are also used as feather dusters. Its skin is used for leather products and its meat is marketed commercially.
itis_id: 174375
wikipedia_id: Ostrich
picture_file_name: 430.jpg
picture_content_type: image/jpeg
picture_file_size: 174017
picture_updated_at: null
legacy_id: 457
food_group: Animal foods
food_subgroup: Poultry
food_type: Type 1
created_at: 2018-01-18T03:18:03.000Z
updated_at: 2019-05-14T18:05:24.000Z
creator_id: null
updater_id: null
export_to_afcdb: false
category: specific
ncbi_taxonomy_id: 8801
export_to_foodb: true
public_id: FOOD00422