The common ostrich, Struthio camelus, standing 2.5 metres tall and weighing 100-130 kg, holds the record of being the largest living bird species. Its long limbs also make it the fastest runner, capable of speeds up to 70-100 km/h. If threatened, it will attempt to escape, or hide by lying flat on the ground, but if cornered, it can deliver a fierce kick with the nail of its inner toe, which is powerful enough to kill even a lion. Ostriches are mainly vegetarian, eating seeds, fruits and various grasses, but will also feed on the odd invertebrate and small vertebrates. If famished it will peck at and swallow anything it finds on the ground, even gravel, sand or fragments of metal. The specimens displayed in our museum cabinets both come from Egypt and form part of acquisitions made in the 19th century.
