Somali ostrich

The Somali ostrich (''Struthio molybdophanes''), also known as the blue-necked ostrich, is a large flightless bird native to the Horn of Africa. It is one of two living species of ostriches, the other being the common ostrich. It was also previously considered a subspecies of the common ostrich, but was identified as a distinct species in 2014.

Taxonomy and systematics

''Struthio molybdophanes'' was first described in the ''Norddeutsche allgemeine Zeitung'' Sunday Supplement of 16 September 1883 by Anton Reichenow, who noted the ostrich's distribution as extending over the plains of Somali- and western Galla-Land on the east coast of Africa from 10 degrees north to the Equator. Molecular evidence indicates that the East African Rift has served as a geographic barrier to isolate the taxon from the nominate subspecies, the North African ostrich ''S. c. camelus'', while ecological and behavioural differences have kept it genetically distinct from the neighbouring Masai ostrich ''S. c. massaicus''. An examination of the mitochondrial DNA of ''Struthio'' taxa, including the extinct Arabian ostrich ''S. c. syriacus'', has found that the Somali ostrich is phylogenetically the most distinct, appearing to have diverged from their common ancestor some 3.6 to 4.1 million years ago.

Description

Though generally similar to other ostriches, the skin of the neck and thighs of the Somali ostrich is blue (rather than pinkish), becoming bright blue on the male during the mating season. The neck lacks a typical broad white ring, and the tail feathers are white. The males are larger than the females. The Somali ostrich is similar in size to other ostriches so far as is known, perhaps averaging marginally smaller in body mass than some subspecies of common ostrich (at least the nominate race, ''S. c. camelus''). Reportedly Somali ostriches in captivity weigh about but this may not be an accurate weight for wild birds as captive animals have feeding accesses not available to wild ostriches.Davids, A. H. (2011). ''Estimation of genetic distances and heterosis in three ostrich (Struthio camelus) breeds for the improvement of productivity'' (Doctoral dissertation, Stellenbosch: University of Stellenbosch). It is thus one of the two largest extant bird species.

Distribution and habitat

The Somali ostrich is mostly found in the Horn of Africa, especially in north-eastern Ethiopia, southern Djibouti, most of Kenya, and across most of Somalia.

Behaviour and ecology

The Somali ostrich is differentiated ecologically from the common ostrich, with which there is some range overlap, by preferring bushier, more thickly vegetated areas, where it feeds largely by browsing, whereas the common ostrich is mainly a grazer on open savanna. There are also reports of interbreeding difficulties between the two taxa.

Status and conservation

A report to the IUCN in 2006 suggests that the Somali ostrich was common in the central and southern regions of Somalia in the 1970s and 1980s. However, following the political disintegration of that country and the lack of any effective wildlife conservation, its range and numbers there have since been shrinking as a result of uncontrolled hunting for meat, medicinal products and eggs, with the bird facing eradication in the Horn of Africa. In Kenya it is farmed for meat, feathers and eggs.

Notes

References

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Struthio
Birds described in 1883
Birds of the Horn of Africa
Flightless birds
Ratites
Taxa named by Anton Reichenow
Ostriches