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This is related to a discovery that at least the dwarf cassowary and southern cassowary produce very low-frequency sounds, which may aid in communication in dense rainforests. [32] The "boom" vocalization that cassowaries produce is the lowest-frequency bird call known and is at the lower limit of human hearing. [ 33 ]
Dwarf cassowary in Lae, New Guinea. The scientific name commemorates the Australian naturalist George Bennett. [4] He was the first scientist to examine these birds after a few were brought to Australia aboard a ship. Recognising them as a new species of cassowary, he sent specimens back to England, where other taxonomists confirmed his perception.
Remains attributed to the species are generally around the size of the living dwarf cassowary (Casuarius bennetti).Remains attributed to C. lydekkeri differ from living cassowaries in a number of morphological characters, including "a shallower, narrower pelvis, more gracile femur and a narrower proximal [closer to hip] end to the tarsometatarsus".
The male, at 30 to 37 kg (66 to 82 lb), is smaller than the female, at an average of 58 kg (128 lb), making it the fourth heaviest living bird species after the common ostrich, Somali ostrich and the southern cassowary. [2] These birds measure 149 cm (4 ft 10 + 1 ⁄ 2 in) long and stand 1.5–1.8 m (4 ft 11 in – 5 ft 11 in) in height. [2]
Skeletal mount (note damaged skull) Presently, most authorities consider the southern cassowary monotypic, but several subspecies have been described. [3] It has proven very difficult to confirm the validity of these due to individual variations, age-related variations, the relatively few available specimens (and the bright skin of the head and neck – the basis upon which several subspecies ...
Of the living species, the Australian emu is next in height, reaching up to 1.9 metres (6 ft 3 in) tall and about 50 kilograms (110 lb). [18] Like the ostrich, it is a fast-running, powerful bird of the open plains and woodlands. Also native to Australia and the islands to the north are the three species of cassowary.
The total number of cassowary species described, based on minor differences in casque shape and color variations, formerly reached nine. [4] Now, however, only three species are recognized, and most authorities only acknowledge few subspecies or none at all. The fossil record of casuariforms is interesting, but not very extensive.
The fossil record of casuariforms is interesting, but not very extensive. Some Australian fossils initially believed to be from emus were recognized to represent a distinct genus, Emuarius, [3] which had a cassowary-like skull and femur and an emu-like lower leg and foot.