Long-held Assumptions Of Flightless Bird Evolution Challenged By New Research

Large flightless birds of the southern continents – African ostriches, Australian emus and cassowaries, South American rheas and the New Zealand kiwi – do not share a common flightless ancestor as once believed.

Instead, each species individually lost its flight after diverging from ancestors that did have the ability to fly, according to new research conducted in part by University of Florida zoology professor Edward Braun.

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Tagged as: African Ostriches, Ancestors, Australian Emus, Birds, Cassowaries, Edward Braun, Emus, Flight, Flightless Birds, Kiwis, New Zealand Kiwis, Ostriches, Rheas, South American Rheas, Species, University of Florida, Zoology

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