Dwarf Cassowary (Birds)

ORDER

Struthioniform.es

FAMILY

Casuariida

GENUS & SPECIES

Casuarius bennetti
Dwarf Cassowary

KEY FEATURES

• The dwarf cassowary’s inner toe has evolved into a long, daggerlike claw, making its foot a formidable weapon
• Extremely heavy, | this flightless bird
weighs up to 55 lbs., yet can run up to 30 mph
• The male dwarf cassowary incubates the eggs and also cares for the chicks for up to 9 months

WHERE IN THE WORLD?

Found only in the forests of New Guinea, New Britain Island and | on Yapen Island, mainly at higher altitudes; found occasionally at lower elevations
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Lifecycle

Usually a shy bird, the cassowary can be quite aggressive, especially when caring for its young; the long, sharp claw on its inner toe can seriously injure even large mammals.

HABITAT

The dwarf cassowary dwells at high altitudes, preferring montane forest up to 9,800′; it occasionally will come down to sea level in areas where no other species is present, such as the lowland forest in northeast New Guinea. The dwarf cassowary frequents rainforests,where it searches for food on steep slopes and in thick vegetation. The bird’s populations actually flourish in virgin forest, where they are relatively free from human disturbance.
A Hidden habitat Cassowaries thrive in undisturbed forests.
A Hidden habitat Cassowaries thrive in undisturbed forests.

CONSERVATION

The main threat facing the dwarf cassowary is the loss of its natural habitat. It is especially vulnerable to the massive reduction of the rainforests, whether for housing developments, road construction or agricultural projects. In addition to the destruction of its natural habitat, adult cassowaries are run over on roads or even attacked by dogs, making the chicks left .behind particularly vulnerable. Hunting pressure has intensified in New Guinea, where prices fetched by cassowary feathers have increased.

FOOD & FEEDING

The cassowary feeds mainly on the fruit of forest trees, which it usually eats whole. The cassowary cannot fly to reach the high fruit, so it eats only those pieces that have fallen on the ground. Because the bird needs a supply of fruit throughout the year, only forests with a diversity of trees that ripen at different times will sustain a population of cassowaries. While foraging, the bird wanders slowly along regularly used trails, picking up fallen fruit with its powerful bill and then tossing it up so that it falls directly into the throat to be swallowed whole. Small stones in the bird’s gizzard help to break down the food by grinding away the tough skins. The dwarf cassowary leaves numerous multicolored droppings on the forest floor, which are full of seeds and partially digested fruits. The cassowary can drink water while either standing or sitting.
A Fallen fruit The cassowary eats fruit that has fallen from trees.
A Fallen fruit The cassowary eats fruit that has fallen from trees.

BEHAVIOR

The cassowary is a solitary bird outside the breeding season. It is most active in the early morning and late afternoon, tending to rest in the middle of the day. When relaxing, the bird visits the same sunny sites over and over The cassowary can be quite aggressive when cornered or while breeding, especially when accompanied by chicks. An attack is generally preceded by a threatening “stretch display,” in which the bird arches its body upward, bristling up the feathers toward its rump in an attempt to appear bigger, while making a deep booming sound. An attacking cassowary either jumps up and kicks out at its adversary with both feet at once, or races past, kicking out as it goes with the long, sharp claw on the inner toe, which can inflict a mortal wound.
# Nests are so well camouflaged that very few have ever been found in the wild, although egg 1 collectors have offered large sums of money for a complete clutch of dwarf cassowary eggs.
Upon detecting an approaching human, the shy dwarf cassowary usually disappears into dense vegetation before it is ever seen; consequently, observation of wild cassowaries is difficult.

MATING MATTERS

Beginning the dance...
1 Beginning the dance…
A male cassowary approaches a female, the plumage on his back raised in a courting posture.
Mating dance...
2 Mating dance…
Continuing the courtship, a male circles the female with his throat puffed out.
Appeasement behavior.
3 Appeasement behavior.
The female crouches down as the male strokes her with one foot while balancing on the other.
Role reversal
While the female searches for another mate, the male remains behind to care for the eggs.

BREEDING

The dwarf cassowary tends to breed during the dry season, between June and October, when fruit is most plentiful in the forest. Males defend clearly defined territories of about 6 sq. miles. When a female enters an occupied territory, the male repeatedly attempts to approach her, raising the plumage along his back until she gradually accepts him and lets him remain by her side. He then begins a courtship display, circling around the female while puffing out his throat and making a rumbling boo-boo-boo call.The nest is a shallow scrape in the ground lined with grass and leaves, which the male prepares after mating.
Once the female has laid 3-5 pale- or dark-green eggs in the nest, she leaves in search of another male to mate with; on average, most females lay 2-3 clutches during one breeding cycle. Meanwhile, the male remains in charge of the eggs. After incubating for 49-56 days, the downy chicks hatch; they are able to walk and feed themselves only a few hours after hatching. A short time later; the male leaves the nest with his chicks. He accompanies them for about nine months, helping them to feed by picking food up off the ground for them while protecting them from predators including mammals, birds of prey and large reptiles. After one or two years they reach adult size and start to acquire the characteristic black plumage and casque. Sexual maturity is usually reached at 3.5 years of age. Wild cassowaries have a lifespan of at least 12-19 years; in captivity birds have lived as long as 40 years.
tmp5145_thumbSolitary stance The cassowary usually prefers to be alone.
Solitary stance The cassowary usually prefers to be alone.
A Helpful helmet The helmet like casque parts forest growth.
A Helpful helmet The helmet like casque parts forest growth.

Profile

Dwarf Cassowary

A flightless bird with quills that resemble hairs more than feathers, the dwarf cassowary has adapted successfully to life on the ground.
Dwarf Cassowary

CREATURE COMPARISONS

The northern cassowary (Casuarius unappendiculatus) measures up to 5′ in length and weighs up to 100 lbs., almost twice as heavy as the dwarf cassowary. While both birds are native to New Guinea, the northern cassowary is a low-altitude species, occupying lowland rainforest and coastal swamp forest. In contrast, the dwarf cassowary favors higher altitudes, living in montane forest up to 9,800′. The northern cassowary’s neck and head are ornamented with colored wattles (small, fleshy flaps) that are red, blue, purple, green or yellow, while Northern the darker dwarf cassowary has no wattles. cassowary

VITAL STATISTICS
Weight Up to 55 lbs.
Length 3.5′
Wingspan Unknown
Sexual Maturity Up to 4 years
Breeding Season June-October, depending on availability of
fruit
Number \ of Eggs Up to 8
Incubation Period 47-54 days
Fledging i Period 9 months ‘
Breeding | Interval 2 or 3 clutches per season
Typical [ Diet Feeds mainly on the fallen fruit of trees
Lifespan Up to 40 years

RELATED SPECIES

• The dwarf cassowary is I of 3 species in the genus Casuarius, which includes the southern cassowary, C. casuarius, as well as the northern cassowary, C. unappendiculatus. The cassowaries are closely related to the emu, which is the only other family of large, flightless birds found exclusively in Australasia. In the past, these two families were thought to form a separate order, Casuariiformes.

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