Have you ever heard of kiwi fruit? No, we are not talking about that fruit, we are talking about a small animal found in New Zealand. the kiwi is a small bird with a long beak and fur-like plumage that is considered a symbol of that country. Currently, there are five described species of this bird, all belonging to the genus Apteryx.
The kiwi is the size of a hen as an adult and don't fly, so it is classified, together with the ostrich, as a ratita bird. Due to the inability to fly, this species becomes easy prey for predators. In addition, it has a mushroom smell, which makes it a very attractive prey.
These animals are threatened with extinction mainly due to the introduction of mammals in New Zealand. Cats, rabbits, pigs, dogs and ferrets are responsible for a large number of kiwifruit deaths. The life expectancy of these animals in the absence of these predators is about 25 to 50 years, depending on the species in question.
This rare bird presents night habits, only going out at night to feed. During the day, kiwis usually sleep. Your diet is mainly based on invertebrates and some fruit. These birds have a great ability to run and swim in rivers.
The kiwi is a bird incapable of flight, as are the rhea and the ostrich.
Little is known about the way kiwis reproduce, however, it is known that, unlike many species, who hatches the eggs, most of the time, is the male. The incubation period is around 70 to 85 days and is therefore relatively long. These birds also have the characteristic of being monogamous, that is, spend their entire lives with a single partner.
After hatching from the eggs, the small kiwis are covered with feathers and able to move around. These animals, unlike many birds, are not fed by parents. In some species, the formation of family groups that persist for years is observed; in others, puppies seek independence after a few weeks.
There are currently projects in New Zealand to try to save kiwis from extinction. For this, researchers collect eggs from nature, incubate them in a laboratory and take the small kiwis to islands where there are no natural predators. There they develop and only after a while are they returned to the place from which they were taken.
Curiosity:The kiwi fruit was named after this bird that is the symbol of New Zealand.
