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Emu

Dromaius novaehollandiae

Least Concern →

Diet

Omnivore

Lifespan

20 years

Length

1.8 m

Weight

45.0 kg

Population

700.0K

Trend

→ Stable

About

Australia's largest native bird and the world's second-largest by height at up to 1.9 meters, emus are flightless ratites found across most of mainland Australia in grasslands, scrubland, and forests. Powerful kickers capable of 50 km/h sprints, emus are nomadic and travel vast distances in search of food and water. Males perform incubation duties for eight weeks, losing up to a third of their body weight. The subject of the infamous 1932 Great Emu War in Western Australia.

Fun Facts

✨ Emus can sprint at nearly 50 km/h.
✨ The male incubates the eggs for 8 weeks without eating or drinking.
✨ Australia fought the Great Emu War of 1932 and lost.

Habitat & Distribution

Inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests and temperate broadleaf and mixed forests within the Indomalayan biogeographic realm.

🌾 Savanna 🌿 Grassland

Widely distributed across Asia (Nepal), Europe (6 countries), and South America (Colombia, Ecuador).

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇨🇴 Colombia 🇪🇨 Ecuador 🇫🇷 France 🇳🇵 Nepal 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇱 Poland 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Diet & Behavior

🍽️

Omnivore

Emu is classified as omnivore, adapted to its ecological niche.

Diet

🍽️ Omnivore

Plant ~60% Animal ~40%

Conservation Status

LC Least Concern

Estimated Population

700.0K

Population Trend

→ Stable

Full Taxonomy

Casuariiformes (Casuariiformes)

Species

Dromaius novaehollandiae (Emu)

Names in Other Languages

Japanese エミュー

Chinese 鴯鶓

Spanish Emú

French Émeu d'Australie

German Emu

Portuguese emu

Russian Эму

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scientific name of Emu?

The scientific name of Emu is Dromaius novaehollandiae. It belongs to the genus Dromaius.

What is the conservation status of Emu?

Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. The population trend is stable.

Where does Emu live?

Emu is found in Widely distributed across Asia (Nepal), Europe (6 countries), and South America (Colombia, Ecuador).. Countries include Belgium, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, United Kingdom.

What family does Emu belong to?

Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) belongs to the genus Dromaius, which is part of the taxonomic family Dromaiidae.

What does Emu eat?

Emu is omnivore. Its diet is adapted to its natural habitat and ecological niche.

How long does Emu live?

Emu has an average lifespan of approximately 20 years in the wild.

How many Emu are left in the wild?

The estimated wild population of Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is approximately 700,000 individuals.

Is Emu endangered?

No, Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, meaning it is not currently at significant risk of extinction.