Synopses & Reviews
The book covers the evolution, biology and natural history of the group of flightless birds that includes ostriches, emus, cassowaries and kiwis - the Ratites and their relatives, the Tinamous. It reviews the scientific studies that have been made of their ecology, behaviour, physiology, husbandry, evolution, mythology and conservation. Each of the 55 species is described in detail, with maps of the present known distribution, accounts of their food and nesting habits, calls, field identification, habitat and relationship with humans, including farming. It is the first such comprehensive account of the groups since 1877, and the first to bring together comprehensive information about the tinamous, a little known bird of the Americas.
Review
"Ratites and Tinamous is a welcome addition to the renowned Bird Families of the World series. ... The book is beautifully illustrated and the definitive work on these interesting birds.
"...This is an excellent compilation of ratite and tinamou
information for the general public or academicians. I would
highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn
more about these unusual avian species."--The Quarterly
Review of Biology
Table of Contents
List of colour plates List of abbreviations
Plan of book and note on reading the species accounts
Topographical diagrams of the birds
Prologue
Part I General Chapters
1. The evolution of Ratites and tinamous
2. Design concepts - birds that don't fly
3. Feeding ecology
4. The consequences of nomadism - non-breeding behaviour and biology
5. Mating systems and breeding biology
6. Mythology, harvesting and farming
7. Ratites in the future
Part II Species accounts
8. Genus Tinamous
9. Genus Nothocercus
10. Genus Rhynchotus
11. Genus Nothoprocta
12. Genus Nothura
13. Genus Taoniscus
14. Genus Eudromia
15. Genus Tinamotis
The Rheas - Family Rheidae
16. Genus Rhea
The Emu - Family Dromaiidae
17. Genus Dromaius
The Cassowaries - Family Casuariidae
18. Genus Casuarius
The Kiwis - Family Apterygidae
19. Genus Apteryx
The Ostrich - Family Struthionidae
21. Ostrich