Shiri inonzi Mhou kana mhowani ishiri inowanikwa muziwumbe reAfrica isingakwanise kubhururuka. Shiri iyi yakakura zvokudarika kureba kwemunhu; inoreba zvokusvika 1.7-2.3m kana yakamira. Mhou inozivikanwa nokuva nemakumbo marefu nemutsipa murefu. Mhou dzinodya zvinomera muvhu, mashizha nemichero. Dzinodyawo mhuka dzisina muzongoza. Mhou dzinogara mumapoka ane shiri dzinobva pashanu kusvika pamakumi mashanu (5-50). Kana mhou yayingirwa nechikara inohwarara pasi kana kuti inotiza. Kana ichinge yasvitswa pakamanika inorwisa ichikava nemakumbo ayo ane simba samare. Nguva dzekunge mikono ichitanda nzvari dzinosiyana nenzvimbo; asi mikono inochengera nzvimbo dzayo ichichengera nzvari dzingava mbiri kusvika sere (2-7). Mhou dzinopfuyiwa munyika dzakawanda Pasirose; minhenga yadzo ichishandiswa kushongedza mudzimba uye semitsvairo yekupumha guruva pamidziyo. Matehwe adzo anoshandiswa kugadzira mabhegi nemabhande uye nyama yadzo inotengeswa ichidyiwa. Nyama yemhou yakatsvuka seyemhuka dzemusango uye ine kunhuwirira kwayo kunokwezva moyo. BaKalanga vanoti phou vachireva mhou shiri. Chewa vanoti Nthiwatiwa (ostrich) kureva shiri inonzi mhou. Nhiwatiwa izita remhuri. Giryama vanoti nyaa (ostrich) kureva mhou. Luwanga vanoti lihuto (n. ostrich) kreva mhou. Beli vanoti kanga (n. ostrich) kureva mhou.