Birds · Casuariiformes · Casuariidae

Dwarf Cassowary

Casuarius bennetti

Near Threatened

It could become endangered in the near future if current threats go unchecked. See full glossary

The dwarf cassowary, or Bennett's cassowary, is the smallest of the three cassowaries and the one that lives at the highest altitude. It is black with blue and red neck skin and a low, triangular horny casque on the head. Like its relatives it has an inner claw shaped like a dagger that can be more than ten centimetres long. The male incubates alone and raises the chicks for almost a year.

Weight

17 kg – 26 kg

Size

99 cm – 1.5 m

Lifespan

40 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Moderate

RainforestMountainHerbivore Diurnal Solitary Near Threatened Bird Rainforest Mountain

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Fun facts

Its inner claw is a real weapon: a horny dagger more than ten centimetres long with which it can open up a predator in a single kick, and cassowaries are regarded as among the most dangerous birds in the world.
It is probably the bird with the oldest documented relationship with humans outside classical domestication: there is archaeological evidence that its eggs were being collected and reared in New Guinea more than 18,000 years ago.
The male does everything: he incubates for almost two months and then raises the chicks alone for nine months, while the female mates with other males.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Montane forest of New Guinea, between 500 and 3,300 metres in altitude
Sexual maturity: 4 years
Gestation / incubation: 50 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 4 eggs

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casuarius_bennetti