In its new home, the greater rhea is considered generally beneficial as its browsing helps maintain the habitat diversity of the sparsely populated grasslands bordering the Schaalsee biosphere reserve.[22]. [3] The nests are thus collectively used by several females and can contain as many as 80 eggs laid by a dozen females; each individual female's clutch numbers some 5–10 eggs.

They also store urine separately in an expansion of the cloaca. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'newworldencyclopedia_org-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_3',169,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'newworldencyclopedia_org-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_4',169,'0','1'])); Some eggs are left outside the nest. [3] The nest is kept in a hidden location; males will drag sticks, grass, and leaves in the area surrounding the nest so it resembles a firebreak as wide as their neck can reach. The main products are meat and eggs, but rhea oil is used for cosmetics and soaps, and rhea leather is also traded in quantity. On January 26, the Beagle entered the Straits of Magellan and at St. Gregory's Bay Darwin met Patagonians he described as "excellent practical naturalists."

The greater rhea is farmed in North America and Europe, similar to the emu and ostrich. The native range of this flightless bird is the eastern part of South America; it is not only the largest species of the genus Rhea but also the largest American bird alive.

Rheas tend to be silent birds with the exception being when they are chicks or when the male is seeking a mate. Feral dogs are known to kill younger birds, and the southern caracara (Caracara plancus) is suspected to prey on hatchlings. Like their ostrichand emu cousins, these birds have long necks and long legs. Favorite food plants include native and introduced species from all sorts of dicot families, such as Amaranthaceae, Asteraceae, Bignoniaceae,[28] Brassicaceae, Fabaceae,[28] Lamiaceae,[28] Myrtaceae[28] or Solanaceae. In 2006, a protocol was established for training greater rheas to avoid would-be predators, and for identifying the most cautious animals for release. The polygynous males may court between two and twelve females. 2006.The fishing rhea: A new food item in the diet of wild greater rheas (. DNA analysis shows that the ratites diverged from one another too recently to share a common Gondwanian ancestor. They are regarded as "domestic" and thus protected from hunting. This fearlessness renders them highly vulnerable to predators if the birds are released into the wild in reintroduction projects. They also store urine separately in an expansion of the cloaca.[2]. [22] A biosurvey conducted in late 2012 found the population had grown to more than 100 and was settling in permanently. Recent evidence suggests that dominant males may enlist a subordinate male to roost for him while he starts a second nest with a second harem. The populations of Argentina and Uruguay are most seriously affected by the decline, in the former country mostly due to the adverse impact of agriculture, in the latter mostly due to overhunting in the late 20th century. The incubation period is 30–44 days, and the clutch size is from 5–55 eggs. Their shell is greenish-yellow when fresh but soon fades to dull cream when exposed to light. [33], The greater rhea is considered a Near Threatened species according to the IUCN, and they have a decreasing range of about 6,540,000 square kilometres (2,530,000 sq mi). [6] This merging of genera leaves only the Rhea genus.[7]. Other ratites are the similar-looking and fast-running emus of Australia and ostriches of Africa, as well as the much smaller kiwis of New Zealand.

However, rheas differ so little across their range that without knowledge of the place of origin it is essentially impossible to identify captive birds to subspecies.[9]. [20] Other major predators include the bush dog (Speothos venaticus), the maned-wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), the tegu lizard (Tupinambis teguixin), and some birds of prey. [8][28], Like many birds which feed on tough plant matter, the greater rhea swallows pebbles which help grind down the food for easy digestion. [8], Farmers sometimes consider the greater rhea pests, because they will eat broad-leaved crop plants, such as cabbage, chard and bok choy. Like the ostrich and emu, they are commercially farmed. In mixed cerrado and agricultural land in Minas Gerais (Brazil), R. a. americana was noted to be particularly fond of beetles. Pages 46-49 in J. Forshaw (ed.

[2] Their wings are large for a flightless bird and are spread while running, to act like sails.

These birds can reach 5.6 feet (1.7 meters) in height, and weigh up to 88 pounds (40 kilograms). 1979. Schetini de Azevedo, C., and R. J. When in danger they flee in a zig-zag course, utilizing first one wing then the other, similar to a rudder. The infant chicks have high mortality in typical confinement farming situations, but under optimum free-range conditions, chicks will reach adult size by their fifth month.

After doing this and attracting females, they will continue calling at a specific female, and will start to either walk alongside her or in front of her while spreading his wings and lowering his head. One of two species in the genus Rhea, in the family Rheidae, the greater rhea is native to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Greater rheas are half-grown about three months after hatching, full adult size in about six months, and sexually mature by their 14th month, but do not breed until they reach two years of age. The rhea nest consists of a simple and wide scrape in the ground, lined with grass and leaves. They do not usually eat cereal grains, or monocots in general. [12], The greater rhea likewise is considered a Near Threatened species according to the IUCN. the sarsaparilla Smilax brasiliensis) have also been recorded as foodplants.

At the time, it was popularly accepted that every living being had been created in a fixed form, only changing their appearance as an adaptation to their way of life, but remaining the same species. When chased they will flee in a zigzag pattern, alternately raising one wing then the other. This ratite is the largest bird in the Americas. These insects contain among them many who can give painful stings, though the birds do not seem to mind. (South American Classification Committee). [8][28], After the large flocks break up in the winter, they form into three loose groups:[3], As winter approaches, males become more aggressive towards each other. Recent evidence has shown that some males will utilize subordinate males to help incubate and protect the eggs. The incubation period is 29–43 days. [17][29][30][31][32], Captive-bred greater rheas exhibit significant ecological naïvete. It also is notable for its reproductive habits, and for the fact that a group has established itself in Germany in recent years. The incubation period is 29–43 days. This species is farmed in North America and Europe similar to the emu and ostrich.