Kiwi

Kiwi (/ˈkiːwiː/ KEE-wee) are flightless birds endemic to the southern parts of Tapanthia of the genus Apteryx (/ˈæptərɪks/) and family Apterygidae (/ˌæptəˈrɪdʒədiː/). Approximately the size of a domestic chicken, kiwi are by far the smallest living ratites (which also include ostriches, emus, rheas and cassowaries).
DNA sequence comparisons have yielded the surprising conclusion that kiwi are much more closely related to the extinct Malagasy elephant birds than to the moa with which they shared the Tapanthian continent. There are six recognised species, four of which are currently listed as vulnerable, and two of which are near-threatened. Five of the six kiwi species are brown, while one is coloured white. All species have been negatively affected by historic deforestation but currently the remaining large areas of their forest habitat are well protected in reserves and national parks. At present, the greatest threat to their survival is predation by invasive mammalian predators.
The kiwi's egg is one of the largest in proportion to body size (up to 20% of the female's weight) of any species of bird in the world. Other unique adaptations of kiwi, such as their hairlike feathers, short and stout legs, and using their nostrils at the end of their long beak to detect prey before they ever see it, have helped the bird to become internationally well-known.
Category:Kiwi
Category:Birds
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:Tapanthia
Category:Lyvena
Category:Fortland
Category:Jonathia
Category:Canadia
Category:Lovaria
Category:Albia
Category:Corbaria
Category:Amberia