| Guinness World Records reports on its website that the fastest land bird is the ostrich. This flightless, African bird has been recorded running up to 45 mph. This helps them to keep away from lions and hyenas which try to catch them, because at 345 pounds, they would make a great meal for a starving predator and its family. Can you believe that they can run this fast with only 2 toes on each foot? They tower over most people because they stand between 8 & 9 feet tall! They also have incredible strength in their legs because experts say they can kick holes into car doors.
The ostrich was given the scientific name of Struthio camelus. Can you guess which part of the scientific name means "camel-like"? They lay eggs and can tell their own eggs apart from another ostrich's eggs when they share a nest. If you would try to fix one egg for breakfast, it would take 2 hours to boil and be equal to 24 chicken eggs.
Credits: Animal information obtained from Guinness World Records and Sea World Animal Bytes
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