Did you know? One emu egg can make an omelet that can feed up to six adults. Did you know that the emu is the only bird with calf muscles? Can an emu walk backward? Let us find out by exploring some of the most jaw-dropping emu facts.
Emus Have Amazingly Powerful Legs
Emus are the only birds with calve muscles, which enables them to jump 7 feet straight up in the air. With their super strong legs, emus can perform extremely powerful kicks that can maim predators and even tear down metal fencing. Emus are generally not dangerous birds but they are very defensive when it comes to their young ones.
The Emu Is A Naturally-Built Runner
Emu feet are adapted for long-distance running and sprinting. Calf muscles allow them to sustain a speed of 50 km/h with an average 3-meter stride. The emu has three forward-facing toes on each foot. This allows it to firmly grip the ground and helps in thrusting the bird forward.
The Emu is Not Able to Walk Backwards
Most animals can walk in all directions: forward, backward, and sideways. However, animals such as emus and kangaroos cannot walk backward. Some scholars suggest that the emu’s knee joint prevents backward movement.
The Emu Appears With A Kangaroo On The Australian Coat Of Arms
Because emus and kangaroos cannot walk backward, the Australian government decided to use them both on the coat of arms to symbolize the nation’s resolve to always move forward and never back. And of course, these two special animals are also only found in Australia.
More Than 600 Places in Australia Are Named After The Emu
One of the most interesting facts about emus is simply how many places in Australia are named after them, more than 600! These include waterholes, creeks, plains, hills, lakes, and mountains. The emu is a cultural icon of Australia. It appears in various coins as well as the coat of arms. The emu occupied a special place in indigenous Australian mythology.
These flightless Australian birds live in various habitats across Australia both near the coast and inland. The development of agriculture on the east coast of Australia has made emus uncommon there. They are mostly found in Western Australia.
They Belong To The Same Family As Ostriches
Emus are members of the ratite family which also includes other flightless birds such as rheas, cassowaries, and ostriches. These birds are mostly found in Africa and the south pacific.
The Emu Is The Second Tallest Bird On Earth
It is only exceeded by the ostrich. The tallest emus can reach between 150 and 190 cm. Adult emus weigh up to 60 kg. They are the fourth heaviest living bird.
Emus Have Very Small Wings
An emu’s wing is only about 5 to 10 centimeters long. The small vestigial wings of an emu can flap but they don’t aid mobility. Unlike ostriches, they don’t need big wings because predators are less of an issue to emus.
An ostrich needs large wings that can help it change direction easily when faced with African predators such as a lion. The main predators that emus face are dingoes and they can easily outrun dingoes except for young emus.
Emu Eggs Are 8 Times Larger Than The Eggs Of An Average Chicken
But wait, there are several more mind-blowing emu egg facts. A chicken’s egg weighs 60 grams and contains 65% egg white to 35% yolk while an emu’s egg weighs 10 times more (600 grams) and has 55% egg white to 45% yolk. The yolk is the most nutritious part of an egg.
It’s no wonder Australians are buying more emu eggs, they’re more nutritious than chicken eggs and much bigger. Only a single emu egg can be used to bake a cake or create scrambled eggs for three adults with leftover egg still remaining.
The Emu is Equipped with Natural Sunscreen
How does the emu manage to live in hot and arid habitats? One of the lesser-known emu facts is that it is able to keep cool because of its plumage. Emu feathers are shaggy, dark brown, and not streamlined which gives them protection from solar radiation.
The plumage of the emu varies according to the environment and they usually reflect the general hue of their surroundings. Young emus have additional longitudinal tan stripes that provide extra camouflage.
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