Cassowary Overview

• Flightless bird species, most dangerous bird in world
• Native to Australia and Southeast Asia
• Closest living relatives to dinosaurs, specifically Velociraptor
• Three species exist, southern cassowary is second biggest/heaviest bird globally (after ostrich)

Physical Characteristics

• Huge size: females ~170 pounds, males ~125 pounds, ~6 feet tall
• Bristly feathers resembling hair from distance
• Blue face with red wattles on neck
• Keratin helmet/cask on head (same material as beaks/feathers)
• Wings only extend ~1 foot from body, completely flightless
• 3-5 inch razor-sharp claws on powerful legs

Dangerous Capabilities

• Classified as Class II animal in Florida (same as alligators/big cats)
• Can kill humans - 75-year-old Florida man killed by pet cassowary
• Sharp claws can gut people, reach internal organs
• Powerful legs deliver devastating kicks
• Can knock down grown men with jumping claw attacks
• YouTube video shows cassowary attacking man with shield

Habitat and Behavior

• Live in dense forest environments with thorns/underbrush
• Thick feathers protect from thorns and branches
• Helmet theory: allows headlong running through forest without injury
• Generally not aggressive, avoid humans
• Dangerous when protecting eggs/young
• Stealth hunters with calls at edge of human hearing range
• Call creates chest vibrations from low-frequency sound waves

Reproduction and Social Structure

• Males raise hatchlings alone after females lay eggs
• Females mate with multiple males then abandon offspring
• Natural selection advantage: more chicks born through polygamous system
• Males are smaller, do all parenting work

Ecological Role

• Keystone species for forest ecosystems
• Eat tons of fruit, spread seeds over wide areas through droppings
• Seeds pass through digestive tract with nutrients
• Create diverse fruit habitats where they're present

Conservation Status

• All three species vulnerable or near threatened
• Declining numbers due to human encroachment
• Habitat loss from development
• Road strikes major threat
• Dog attacks on young cassowaries
• Conservation efforts include habitat buybacks, preserves
• Wildlife overpasses being built over roads
• Nature highways allow safe crossing over roadways

Wattle Function

• Red neck wattles possibly mood indicators
• May change color/brightness with emotional state
• Potential sexual display feature
• Not definitively understood by scientists