Bird · GBIF taxon 8565456
Asian Ostrich
Struthio asiaticusAlso known as Asiatic Ostrich
Asian ostriches roamed the expansive grasslands and open steppes of the Indian subcontinent and across Asia, navigating a Pleistocene landscape alongside diverse megafauna. Adapted for open-country running, these massive ratites possessed stout leg bones built for endurance and power across flat terrain. Fossil eggshell fragments recovered from ancient hunter-gatherer sites demonstrate that early humans actively gathered their eggs for sustenance and raw materials.
FlightlessPrehistoric
Licensed referenceЙозеф Питлевски (Josef Pitlevski) / CC0 · cc0
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Steppe grasses
- Drought-hardy seeds
- Tubers and roots
Predators
- Homotherium
- Crocuta crocuta
- Panthera leo
ThreatsPaleoclimate shifts, habitat fragmentation, and early human hunting pressure
HabitatsSemi-arid steppes, open savannas, and dry grasslands
Life span35–45 years
Classification
- FamilyStruthionidae
- SpeciesStruthio asiaticus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Extinct prehistoric species known only from fossil and archaeological remains.
Responsible observation
- Fossil Identification: Look for thick, weathered eggshell shards exhibiting pitted surface pores.
- Museum Viewing: Examine mounted skeletal elements to observe the robust leg architecture.
Close Relative (c) Jan Ebr & Ivana Ebrová, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jan Ebr & Ivana Ebrová · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Annika Lindqvist, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Annika Lindqvist · cc-by
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