Description
Cassowaries are large
animals; in fact they are usually the largest creatures within their
rainforest habitat. Their body is covered in black hair-like feathers, with
naked scaly legs that end in large feet with sharply clawed toes. In contrast
the head and neck have bright blue and red coloration. On top of the head is a
unique structure, the casque. These birds are usually silent, but can emit a
low, booming call.
Feeding
ecology
Cassowaries eat
mainly large colourful frits, but are also recorded to eat carrion and other
small animals. They are considered vital “keystone” species due to the fact
that they eat, (and therefore distribute) so many large tropical rainforest
fruits. In fact, the Southern
Cassowary is probably the single most important animal seed disperser of the
Australian tropical rainforest. Studies have shown that the animal is an
obligate frugivore, with the bird depending on fruits to survive (Stocker and
Irvine 1993). So far, over 200 Australian tropical rainforest plants have been
recorded to be eaten by cassowaries (Kroon and Westcott 2001). And even though
the bird itself is hard to see, their scat can be quite common and
conspicuous, and can contain up to 1 kilogram of seed (Stocker and Irvine
1983). One scat contained 13 seeds of about of about 6 centimetres in diameter
(Stocker and Irvine 1983).
Behaviour
Cassowaries are
basically solitary animals.
Radio-telemetry studies have shown that cassowaries, especially in the
uplands, have huge territories, sometimes of several kilometres, and that they
may cover that distance in a day (Kroon and Westcott 2001).
The only time cassowaries are
seen together is when a father is with the chicks. The female may mate with
several partners, then leaves to let the male look after the large green eggs.
The male then raises the chicks, at which time he is known to be potentially
aggressive. The inner toe of the foot has a very large, sharp claw, probably
used for defence. They have been known to attack people with these claws, and
therefore should not be fed or approached. Thus, the Cassowary is considered
one of Australia’s few potentially dangerous large animals.
Habitat
and distribution
Cassowaries are found
mainly in tropical rainforest, although they do venture out into mangroves,
farms and gardens. Two species, the 'Single wattled Cassowary' and the ‘Pygmy
Cassowary' are restricted to the island of New Guinea, while the third
species, the 'Southern Cassowary' is found in both New Guinea and Australia.
