Casuariidae

Casuariidae
Southern cassowary
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Infraclass: Palaeognathae
Order: Casuariiformes
Family: Casuariidae
Kaup, 1847
Genera
Diversity
2-3 genera, 6-7 species

The bird family Casuariidae /kæsjuːəˈraɪ.ɪdiː/ has four surviving members: the three species of cassowary and the emu.

All living members of the family are very large flightless birds native to Australia-New Guinea.

Species

Systematics and evolution

Some Australian fossils initially believed to be from emus were recognized to represent a distinct genus, Emuarius, which had a cassowary-like skull and femur and an emu-like lower leg and foot.

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Brand, S. (2008)
  2. ↑ Clements, J (2007)
  3. ↑ From "Emu" + "Casuarius". Describer W. E. Boles commonly refers to the genus as "emuwaries" or "cassomus".

References