the Nandus is South American run-birds, that in the savannas of the lowland, that pampas and in the plateaus of the mountains lives; rocky mountain-landscapes and Urwälder avoid it completely as real steppe-birds. If one compares it with the remaining run-birds (Kasuare, kiwis, bouquet), so they look like the African ostriches the best, is not narrower relative with them, however, because the construction of the feet, the basin and the palate deviates. The two types, that usual Nandu (Rhea americana) and the small Darwin-Nandu (Pterocnemia pennata) mark also as "South America-bouquet" or "pampas-bouquet", often become.
General characteristics Nandus are very fast runners. its feet carry three toes, that rear-toe is missing. While the normal incremental width amounts to 50-60 cm, it can be increased up to 1,5 m if the bird wants to avoid a danger-situation. The powerful legs then move so fast that one cannot recognize the individual steps any more. In the fast run, the Nandus lift their for run-birds relatively well developed wings with the long, soft feathers moreover and can steer hereby. So it also becomes possible for them to alter (they "beat hooks") the movement-direction abruptly in that they lift a wing, that however, others place narrowly against the body.
All feathers are simple (without anus-shaft) and soft. The Nandus are remain befiedert, only the eye-area and the ear-opening freely at head, neck, torso and thighs. The stiff bristle-eyelashes are characteristic at the eyelids. Males and females hardly differ in the coloring of the plumage, probably however in the size (the hen remains smaller).
Endangering Individual subtypes of the Nandus are endangered and are therefore put by the Washingtoner Artenschutzübereinkommen under protection.
Usual Nandu (Rhea americana)) During the Balzzeit, the cock discharges a deep and long-range reputation, on whose sound-picture the Indian name "Nan-du" is to be led back. Before the reputation sounds, the neck is swollen up (bouquet) strongly for a short time. Also through different Balztänze, it alerts to himself. During each rivals from its precinct stubbornly is expelled, the cock collects 5-7 hens about itself, because it is polygamous.
Brood-care The brood-care is matter of the male alone. The cock lays out one with few plant-sharing as hidden as possible lying ground-hollow; it himself either scratched the hollow or also already found. Each of the hens then puts its 15-20 eggs densely beside the nest in two-day distance; only by the cock, they are rolled into the hollow. On this occasion eggs probably get lost, because an average nest contains only 10-15 eggs. Also larger nest-numbers were determined (up to 80 eggs), that can be incubated on the basis of its measurements (an egg is approximately 135 x in 95 mm big and 530-680 g heavy) not at all simultaneously, however. Only on the day, the cock leaves the nest in irregular distances in order to look for food. The hens are during the incubation within the precinct-borders far away, but still.
If the boys slip after 37-45 days, they are still led approximately 5 weeks by the cock alone. they grow up very fast. Later, the hens come again together with it; also, several families join together, that wander through the pampas together. Bigger hikes are hardly carried out on that occasion.
Shape Five subtypes of the Nandus are widespread in South America's savannas, that differ in the coloring of the plumage. Head, front-breast and neck are colored usually black, the back, the breast-sides and the wings dun. The females are somewhat smaller and have a somewhat lighter plumage opposite the males (by 150 cm of total-height, 100 cm of back-height).
Food Beside grass and herbs, the Nandus live also from insects and other invertebrates. They turn easily into food-competitors with it for grazing pets and therefore "organized a lock-out" to increasing extents through pasture-fences. On the other side, they consume gladly unripe fruits it itself extending thistles on and on, whose "burs" take root in the wool of the sheep otherwise.
Enemy-behavior As adult animals, the Nandus don't have any natural enemies, the squabs more frequently already are packed by a carnivore or gripping-bird on the other hand. These boys therefore duck also in the ground as long as they are not sufficiently fast capable to run away. The Nandus make moreover well developed hearing and face-senses so that enemies are perceived usually sufficiently early. Furthermore, they last, secures mutually, also gladly in company of the shy pampas-stag on.
Darwin-Nandu (Pterocnemia pennata)) The Darwin-Nandu remains smaller than the usual Nandu with approximately 90 cm of back-height (males).
Way of life A subtype of the Darwin-Nandus lives in the plateaus of the Andes (3500-4000 m of height), that second Argentina's south until fire-country. Here, the birds quite frequently perform in small companies of 2-6 animals. Probably, the way of life of this of the usual Nandus corresponds, as adaptation at the colder altitudes stores it however stronger fat-layers.
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