The common ostrich is the world’s largest living bird and the fastest two-legged animal on Earth. Unlike most birds, ostriches have only two toes on each foot — an adaptation that, along with powerful leg musculature, allows sustained running at 45 km/h and sprint speeds of 70 km/h. Ostriches also lay the largest eggs of any living bird, each weighing up to 1.5 kg and equivalent to approximately 24 chicken eggs. Their eyes, at 5 cm in diameter, are the largest of any land vertebrate.
About the Ostrich
Struthio camelus
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⚡ Speed Comparison
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💡 Fun Facts
01
Ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand — this myth arises from their habit of lying with their neck flat on the ground when threatened, which appears head-buried from a distance.
02
A single ostrich kick delivers up to 500 kg of force and can kill a lion; the two-toed foot's inner toe has a 10 cm nail that functions as a lethal dagger.
03
Ostriches have the largest eyes of any land vertebrate at 5 cm in diameter — each eye is actually larger than the bird's brain.
04
They practice communal nesting: a dominant hen drives away other females' eggs to the outer, cooler rim of the nest where incubation failure is most likely.
05
At top speed of 70 km/h, an ostrich stride covers 3-5 metres; they can sustain 50 km/h for 30 minutes continuously.
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