- Flightless bird
- The emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is the second-largest living bird by height, after its ratite relative, the ostrich
- It is endemic to Australia
- Emus can reach up to 1.9 meters (6.2 ft) in height
- Their feet have only three toes and a similarly reduced number of bones and associated foot muscles; emus are the only birds with gastrocnemius muscles in the back of the lower legs
- The emu has sharp claws on its toes, which are its major defensive attribute, and are used in combat to inflict wounds on opponents by kicking
- Emus eat a variety of native and introduced plant species. The diet depends on seasonal availability with such plants as Acacia, Casuarina and grasses being favoured
- Emus drink infrequently, but ingest large amounts when the opportunity arises
- Emus can travel great distances, and when necessary sprint at 50 km/h (31 mph)
- The male does the incubation; during this process, he hardly eats or drinks and loses a significant amount of weight. The eggs hatch after around eight weeks, and the young are nurtured by their fathers.
- The vocalisations of emus mostly consist of various booming and grunting sounds
- main predator dingo
