Casuariiformes

Cassowaries Flightless birds, no keel Distribution – tropical forests of New Guinea, northeastern Australia Species Casuarius casuarius – Southern Cassowary Casuarius bennetti – Dwarf Cassowary Casuarius unappendiculatus – Northern Cassowary

Southern Cassowary Distribution – southern New Guinea, northeastern Australia, Aru Island Mainly in the lowlands Conservation status is Least Concern Synapomorphies Stiff, bristly black feathers Blue face and neck Horn-like brown casque Middle toe is a tagger-like claw, up to 12cm Can be up to 190 pounds, but usually range between 40 and 150 pounds

Southern Cassowary continued Eats fruits, seeds, fungi, and insects and some small vertebrates Males incubate and raise the chicks alone Have been known to kill humans https://www.facebook.com/katie.gothard/videos/vb.100000932566963/2055022601205472/?type=2&video_source=user_video_tab

Dwarf Cassowary Distribution – New Guinea, New Britain, Yapen Mainly in the highlands Conservation status is Least Concern Synapomorphies Smallest of the cassowaries Usually between 40 and 60 pounds Low and triangular casque Pink cheeks, red patches on a blue neck Dagger-like inner toe Eat seeds of fallen fruits, small animals, and insects

Northern Cassowary Distribution – Northern and western New Guinea, Yapen Mainly in lowlands Conservation status is Least Concern Synapomorphies Stiff black plumage Blue facial skin Bright red or yellow colored neck Dagger-like inner toe Males can be 60-80 pounds, while females can be up to 130 pounds

Northern Cassowary continued Eat mainly fruits and small mammals

Sugarbirds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXOs4p24_Y0

Classification Classification Species Order – Passeriformes Suborder – Passeri Family – Promeropidae Species Promerops gurneyi – Gurney’s sugarbird Promerops cafer – Cape sugarbird

Gurney’s sugarbird Distribution – Mozambique, Lesotho, South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe Subtropical or tropical dry forests, dry savanna, shrubby vegetation Conservation status is Least Concern https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VudNkiYWf_o

Cape sugarbird Distribution – Western Cape and Female Cape sugarbird Distribution – Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa Endemic to Fynbos biome Synapomorphies Yellow spot beneath tail Males have extra long tail feathers Conservation status is Least Concern Male https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgnBcs9fP40

Sugarbirds continued Pollinators Eat nectar, bees, and flies Breeding behavior Monogamous Males defend territories during the breeding season Females lay two eggs in a nest in a fork of a tree https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwnIPFEFmpQ