Animal Quick Facts
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Size
Up to 9 feet and 345 pounds.
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Diet
Plant matter, including fruits, seeds, and shoots. Additionally, some insects.
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Color
Black and white.
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Lifespan
10.6 years (median life expectancy of males and females combined)
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Range
Central and South Africa.
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Habitat
Open country, desert areas, and dry savanna.
Struthio camelus
Location in the Zoo: African Savanna
The ostrich is the largest and heaviest living bird. It is unable to fly and does not possess a breastbone common to most birds.
Female ostriches reach sexual maturity in three or four years and give birth to one or two young after an incubation period of 40 days.