The ostrich is an African bird without wings. They are the world’s biggest birds! Despite not being able to fly, they are nonetheless capable of sprinting at up to 43 mph. They can move 10–16 feet in a single stride thanks to their strong legs.
Many of the birds that we see flying around our homes are distinct from ostriches. These enormous birds may reach heights of 9 feet and weights of 290 pounds. Their prowess in running and kicking more than makes up for their inability to fly. So how are they different anatomically from our backyard bird friends? Are ostriches hollow-boned like many other flighted animals? Both yes and no, is the answer. Although ostriches’ other bones are solid, their femurs are hollow. Continue reading to discover more about ostrich bones.
What Is a Ratite?
A ratite, or bird without wings, is an ostrich. A bird known as a ratite has a flat breastbone and no keel. The kiwi, cassowary, and emu are other ratites.
A flighted bird’s keel extends from the sternum and is connected to the wing muscles. Birds use this structure to provide them with leverage during flight. A keel is necessary for flight to be possible.
Why Do Birds Have Hollow Bones?
Birds that can fly have hollow bones that enable flight. Pneumatized bones are what they are. The air sacs in the bones are filled with oxygen-supplying blood. As a result, birds have more energy and oxygen during flying. One of these bones would resemble a sponge if you were to look inside it. Additionally strengthening the bones structurally, this property.
Contrary to popular belief, these bones do not make birds lighter so they can fly. Although not particularly heavy, bird bones are quite dense, making them heavier than bones from mammals of a same size. A 2-ounce mouse, for instance, has a lighter skeleton than a 2-ounce bird. The weight and strength of the bird’s bones prevent them from shattering readily.
Ostrich Anatomy
Ostriches don’t have a lot of places to hide because they dwell in open spaces. As prey animals, they are also. Their quickness and kicking power are their two main defenses against predators. They have big hearts to provide blood to their muscles since they must flee from danger. They can run at their maximum capacity for up to 30 minutes before needing to rest.
They have two toes on each foot, as well as powerful thigh muscles. They move with their balance maintained by one huge toe, which carries the majority of their weight, and one smaller toe. The only bird in the world with only two toes on each foot is the ostrich. While flighted birds have four toes, other ratites only have three.
The ostrich’s bones resemble those in human body. One has a solid bone structure within that is filled with a tube of marrow, if you were to look inside one. The thigh bones, or femurs, are the only hollow or pneumatized bones in an ostrich. Ostriches stay cool when running thanks to the air sac system in their bones. By panting, they can also lower their body temperatures.
The remaining bones of the ostrich are firm and robust, supporting their living on the ground.
Ostrich Kicks
Ostriches must engage in combat if they can’t outrun a predator. Their strong legs will be used to kick in order to accomplish this. They are capable of kicking powerfully forward while bending their knees.
A kick from an ostrich can have a force of up to 2,000 pounds per square inch. For comparison, a professional boxer only punches with 776–1,300 pounds of force per square inch. Ostriches are so powerful that they are capable of killing a person or other predator, such a lion, with a single kick.
A kick from an ostrich can also be blocked by its razor-sharp claws. A 4-inch claw on the inner toe slashes as the ostrich kicks downward. This claw has the power to kill or dismember a person. This claw can also fatally harm a predator with its wounds.
Other Defenses
If all else fails, the ostrich can ram a person or predator with its flat, bony armour to knock them to the ground in an act of self-defense. The bird will then leap upon the predator, breaking ribs and injuring other parts of the body.
The ostrich will occasionally make an effort to completely avoid danger. But contrary to popular belief, they will flatten their heads and necks to the ground instead of sticking their heads in the sand. Predators won’t see the ostrich since it resembles a giant rock.
Ostriches in the wild coexist in herds with other prey animals like zebras and antelopes. The ostriches have no shortage of insects or rodents to eat thanks to the zebras and antelopes. The ostriches return the favor by watching out for potential threats. They can recognize danger before it approaches them thanks to their height and keen hearing and sight. They can then use a succession of whistles, calls, and snorts to signal the other animals to run away.
Final Thoughts
Like flighted birds, ostriches don’t have hollow bones. Their bones are substantial and marrow-filled, much like human bones. The femur bones are the only hollow bones found in ostriches. While running at high speed, this aids them in controlling their body temperatures.
Ostriches can’t fly to flee danger, but they have a lot of other ways to protect themselves from predators. In addition to their outstanding running skills, they are equipped with strong kicks and pointed claws that can cause lethal wounds to humans or other animals. These big birds have many traits that flighted birds do not, despite the fact that they cannot fly.
Credit for the Featured Image goes to worldclassphoto and Shutterstock
