Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), Brindabella Ranges, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Date 25 January 2012, 10:01:40
Author JJ Harrison (jjharrison89@facebook.com)
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dromaius_novaehollandiae_1_-_Brindabella_Ranges.jpg

The common emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is the second-largest living bird by height, after its ratite relative, the ostrich. It is endemic to Australia where it is the largest native bird and the only extant member of the genus Dromaius. The emu's range covers most of mainland Australia, but the Tasmanian emu and King Island emu subspecies became extinct after the European settlement of Australia in 1788. Common emus are soft-feathered, brown, flightless birds with long necks and legs, and can reach up to 1.9 metres in height. Emus can travel great distances, and when necessary can sprint at 50 km/h.
Order: Casuariiformes
Family: Dromaiidae
Genus: Dromaius
Species: Dromaius novaehollandiae (Latham, 1790)[3]
Synonyms:
Casuarius novaehollandiae Latham, 1790
Dromiceius novaehollandiae (Latham, 1790)
Casuarius australis Shaw, 1792
Dromaius ater Vieillot, 1817
Dromiceius emu Stephens, 1826
Casuarius diemenianus Jennings, 1827
Dromiceius major Brookes, 1830
Dromaeus irroratus Bartlett, 1859
Dromaeus ater (Blyth, 1862)