Ostrich

	Native Land	African mountains and deserts
	Average Weight	250 lb
	Average Height	7 ft
	Diet	Grass and small plants

Native to African savannah, rocky, mountainous, and desert areas, the ostrich is the common name for a large flightless bird of the ratite family.  Male coloring is black and white, whereas female coloring is grayish brown.  They are the largest and strongest of today's birds, and skeletal remains of ostriches have been dated as far back as 120 million years ago.

They have relatively small wings which are used for balance when running and strong powerful legs used for defense.  They can run at speeds up to 50 mph, making them one of the fastest land animals.  Females will lay 3 lb eggs in a communal nesting area and incubate them during the day, while the male will keep watch at night.  Ostriches are farmed for their meat, feathers, and hides, which are used to make luxury leather goods.