DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT
Southern America. Grassy plains, with bushes, often near water reservoirs. Due to loss of big part of natural habbitats adapted also to agricultural lands.
BEHAVIOUR
Diurnal bird. Excluding breeding season it lives in herds. Skilled runner, capable to sudden turns during escape from predators. It can develope velocity up to 60 km/h. Often takes sand baths, is a good swimmer.
DIET
Grasses, legumes, wheats. 1 % of the diet are small vertebrates and insects. Sometimes it feeds on feaces of other rheas (coprophagy). Swallowing of small stones (gastrolythes) helps with digestions.
REPRODUCTION
Male builds a nest, hatches eggs layed by the female and takes care over chicks till 6th month.
GOOD TO KNOW
Rhea is the bioggest bird of Southern America. It reaches 140 cm of height and up to 32 kg of body mass.
- Latin name: Rhea americana
- IUCN – Red List – NT (Near threatened)
- CITES – Appendix II
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