Ratites have flat breastbones with no keel. In flight birds, the keel is where the breast muscles of flight attach. Ratites have been around for at least 80 million years. They probably flew in the past, but today have adapted to running rather than flying. These birds are used for several things such as meat, leather, feathers, oil, eggshells and eggs.
Adult males are black with a white tail and wing feathers.
Males at maturity develop a red beak, leg armor and emit a barking sound. Lay a cream coloured egg weighing about 1 kilogram, every second day. Breed in pairs, trios or in groups. In the wild, the male digs the nest and is solely responsible for incubation and the raising of chicks. Lay a cream coloured egg weighing over one and a half pounds, every other day.