Which fact is not true about the rhea?

This is the largest bird in South America. It can be found in open grasslands, pampas and woodlands in the southern region of the continent. Its number in the wild is decreasing due to habitat loss, but it is still not listed as endangered species.

It can reach 5 feet in height and weigh up to 55 pounds. Its body is covered with grey-brown plumage with dark patches on the neck and back. The abdomen and thighs are covered with white feathers.

It has strong legs with three toes that are designed for running, but it is a flightless bird because it lacks the breast bone which connects muscles required for flying. Although it is unable to fly, it can reach the speed of up to 40 miles per hour its large wings provide stability during running.

It feeds on both meat and plants, its normal diet may include seeds, fruits, roots, plants, lizards, insects, reptiles.

Rheas are polygamous animals, A male can mate with between two and twelve females. He will build a nest where each female will deposit her eggs. The number of eggs can vary from 12 to 50, depending on the number of mating partners. The male keeps the eggs warm throughout the incubation period that lasts 6 weeks and looks after the chicks after hatching, keeping both female rheas and predators away.

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5 Comments

Louella Wilson

Linda Reed, your 60 km/h is less than 40 miles/hour, which are the units used in the question.

Linda Reed

I think all of these are true. Rhea Rhea is a flightless bird and the only member the Order: Rheiformes, which is native to South America. There are two species known as Rhea americana (Greater rhea) and R. pennata (Lesser rhea) with collectively eight subspecies. They have a grey to brown plumage with long legs and a long neck. Length between base of the neck and tail is about 1.5 metres and their body weight averages around 40 kilograms. They spread their large wings while running, and they can speed up to 60 kilometres per hour. There are three toes on each foot of a rhea. Usually, they are silent birds, but can be dangerous if provoked. Rheas are omnivores and prefer fruits, roots, and seeds as well as small animals and dead animals. They are communal and their flocks get larger from about 10 to 100 members in each before breeding season. However, flocks break up mostly into couples or into small groups during mating season. Males are polygamous, keeping a couple of females to mate in a season. After mating, male builds the nest and all the females lay eggs on it. Then, males incubate eggs, and sometimes he uses another subordinate male to incubate the eggs.