Kingdom animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class birds
Order Struthioniformes
Family Rheidae
Gender Rhea
Species American rhea
The rheas belong to the same order as the ostriches: Rheidae, but differently from them they occur naturally in South America, more specifically in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. In more recent classifications, they are considered members of the group of large and non-flying birds, the so-called ratites. They are ostriches, cassowaries, kiwis and extinct elephant birds and moas.
Such animals can reach 1.70 meters in height, and up to thirty-five kilos; being the largest birds in Brazil. They have stunted wings, grey-brown feathers and three toes on each foot. In males there is a black spot on the neck, which differs from females.
They are found in environments covered by grasses, feeding on leaves, fruits, seeds, invertebrates and small vertebrates, that is: they are omnivores. To help crush the food, they can ingest small stones and coconuts.
They have long and strong legs, allowing them to reach 60 km/h in dangerous situations. To do this, the wings help such individuals to balance.
Rheas live in flocks of approximately thirty individuals. At the time of mating, the dominant male drives out the others, gathers approximately five females, and mates with them. He is also responsible for preparing the nests, incubating the eggs and caring for the young. All eggs, approximately half a kilo each, are placed in the same nest, and hatch in a little over a month, giving rise to approximately twenty-five offspring.
This species reaches sexual maturity at three years of age and has an average life expectancy of forty years.
Teiús are the biggest predators of rhea eggs; and the chicks are a food source for hawks, some cats and the maned wolf. Allied to this fact, hunting (in order to remove its feathers) and the loss of habitats allowed this species to be found, currently in decline, almost threatened with extinction, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).
By Mariana Araguaia
Graduated in Biology
