The bird family Casuariidae /kæsjuːəˈraɪ.ɪdiː/ has four surviving members: the three species of cassowary and the emu.
Casuariidae | |
---|---|
Southern cassowary | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Infraclass: | Palaeognathae |
Order: | Casuariiformes |
Family: | Casuariidae Kaup, 1847[1] |
Genera | |
Diversity | |
2-3 genera, 6-7 species |
All living members of the family are very large flightless birds native to Australia-New Guinea.[2]
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.