Introduction

Casuariidae (cassowaries and emus — large non-flying ratites) were recognised as a combined family for a relatively short period (Christidis & Boles 2008). Prior to this recognition two distinctive families were established (Casuariidae — cassowaries and Dromaiidae — emus). Even today there is conflict in the recognition of the partition (Marchant & Higgins 1990; Dickinson 2003) of the two, although DNA analysis and interpretation of the family has confirmed this amalgamation as part of the order Casuariiformes. This order was recently accepted as distinct from Struthioniformes (e.g. Christidis & Boles loc cit.) The family is centred in Australia with outlying members of the genus Casuarius occurring in New Guinea and some of its satellite islands. There are six species in two genera, four of which are Australian, albeit two now extinct. The subspecific status has been confused by the over-splitting of the group. Much remains to be done in this area of taxonomy.

Species of the Casuariidae are seen in either large gregarious flocks (emus) or as singles, pairs or small family groups (all species), vocalisation is generally restricted to communication between pairs and consists of loud drumming, especially in times of potential danger or possible nest predation. A varied habitat selection is apparent (forest, woodland, shrubland, grassland etc.; cassowaries tend to frequent heavily vegetated tropical forests, occasionally utilising adjacent open areas; emus utilise a variety of habitats ranging from forest to open grassland and herb field, from the arid interior to the coastal plains. All species are primarily omnivorous with the principal foods being of herbivorous nature.

The species exhibit polyandry, with emus maintaining pairs until breeding commences. Breeding behaviour varies within the two distinctive groups, the role of incubation and care of the young being conducted by the male alone. Pairs are not maintained. Females often mate with several males within a season; nesting occupies the cooler months (autumn and winter). A nest site consists of a slight depression sometimes with vegetation such as grass, twigs and/or leaves. The eggs are large and elliptical, being unmarked apart from the rare incidence of nest staining. The surface texture is rough and the base colour green; in cassowaries this is a pale green while in emus the colour deepens to a dark green and in some to almost black. Clutch sizes range upwards from four, larger clutches possibly indicating more than one female’s involvement. The young are precocial but dependant on the adult male for warmth and protection.

.

General References

Christidis, L. & Boles, W.E. 2008. Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 288 pp. [57-58]

Dickinson, E.C. (ed.) 2003. The Howard & Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. London : Christopher Helm 1039 pp. [35]

Heupink, T.H., Huynen, L. & Lambert, D.M. 2011. Ancient DNA Suggests Dwarf and 'Giant' Emu are conspecific. PLoS ONE 6(4):e18728. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0018728. pp. 7

Marchant, S. & Higgins, P. (coordinators) 1990. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Melbourne : Oxford University Press Vol. 1 Pt A 735 pp. 53 pls. [47-67]

History of changes

History of changes

• Casuarius Brisson, M.-J. 1760. Ornithologia sive Synopsis methodica sistens avium divisionem in ordines, sectiones, genera, species, ipsarumque varietates. Paris : J.-B. Bauche. [10].
• Cassowara Perry, 1810.
• Cela Oken, 1816.
• Thrasys Billberg, 1828.
• Hippalectryo Gloger, 1841.
• Chelarga Billberg, 1828.
• Oxyporus Brookes, 1828.
• Cassuarius Blyth, 1847.
• Casuarius Latham, J. 1790. Index ornithologicus, sive Systema Ornithologiae; complectens avium divisionem in classes, ordines, genera, species, ipsarumque varietates: adjectis synonymis, locis, descriptionibus, &c. London : Leigh & Sotheby Vol. 1 & 2 xviii 920 pp. [664].
• Casoaris Fleming, 1822.
• Casoarius G.R. Gray, 1840.
• Rhea Lacépède, 1799.

Distribution

States

Queensland

IBRA

Qld: Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Wet Tropics (WT)

History of changes

• Struthio casuarius Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundem classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentis, synonymis, locis. Editio decima, reformata. Holmiae : Laurentii Salvii Vol. 1 10 Edn., 824 pp. [155].
• Casuarius johnsonii Müller, F. 1866. Discovery of a True Cassowary in North-East Australia. p. 1221 [1221].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM AM O.13371 Mount (Prev. registered [Palmer] 3319. Missing), Gowrie Creek scrub, Queensland.

  Type locality references:

  North, A.J. 1913. Notes on the early history of the Australian Cassowary (Casuarius australis Wall). Records of the Australian Museum 10: 39-48; Longmore, N.W. 1991. Type specimens of birds in the Australian Museum. Technical Reports of the Australian Museum n 4: 1-42 [37].
• Casuarius casuarius hamiltoni Mathews, G.M. 1915. Additions and corrections to my List of the Birds of Australia. Austral Avian Records 2: 123-133 [Date published 129] [124].
• Casuarius australis Wall, W.S. 1854. The Australian Cassowary (Cassuarius Australis). Illustrated Sydney News 3 June. pp.

  Secondary source:

   Condon, H.T. 1975. Checklist of the Birds of Australia. Part 1 Non-Passerines. Melbourne : Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union xx 311 pp. [3].

Generic Combinations

• Casuarius casuarius (Linnaeus, 1758). —
  Illiger, J.C.W. 1811. Prodromus Systematis Mammalium et Avium, additis terminis zoographicis utriusque classis, eorumque versione Germanica. Berolini : Sumptibus C. Salfeld xvii 301 pp. [247]

Introduction

Southern Cassowary previously treated as subspecies Casuarius casuarius johnsonii F. Müller, 1866 however species now recognised as monotypic

Distribution

States

Queensland

IBRA

Qld: Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Wet Tropics (WT)

Distribution References

Common Name References

Anonymous 1969. An Index of Australian Bird Names. Division of WIldlife Research Technical Paper. Canberra : CSIRO Vol. No. 20 pp. 93. [5] (Cassowary)

Christidis, L. & Boles, W.E. 1994. The Taxonomy and Species of Birds of Australia and its Territories. Monograph 2. Melbourne : Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union iv 112 pp. (Southern Cassowary)

Christidis, L. & Boles, W.E. 2008. Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 288 pp. [14] (Southern Cassowary)

Condon, H.T. 1975. Checklist of the Birds of Australia. Part 1 Non-Passerines. Melbourne : Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union xx 311 pp. [3] (Australian Cassowary)

Menkhorst, P., Rogers, D., Clarke, R., Davies, J., Marsack, P. & Franklin, K. 2019. The Australian Bird Guide. Clayton South, VIC : CSIRO Publishing 2nd, pp. 576. [210] (Southern Cassowary)

History of changes

History of changes

• Dromaius Vieillot, L.P. 1816. Analyse d'une nouvelle ornithologie élémentaire. Paris : Déterville 70 pp. [Date published 14 Apr 1816] [54].
• Dromiceius Vieillot, L.P. 1817. Nouveau Dictionnaire d'Historie Naturelle, applicquée aux Arts, principalement à l'Agriculture et à l'Économie rurale et domestique par une Société de Naturalistes et d'Agriculteurs. Paris : Déterville Vol. 10 pp. [212].
• Dromaeus Ranzani, 1821.
• Tachea Fleming, 1822.
• Dromiceus Swainson, 1837.
• Peronista Mathews, 1912.
• Dromajus Thienemann, 1845.
• Dromaeius Bonaparte, 1856.
• Dromaeus Agassiz, 1842.
• Dromicejus Wagler, 1830.
• Dromiceus Wagler, 1830.
• Emou Griffith & Pidgeon, 1829.

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

IBRA

ACT, NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Vic, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Burt Plain (BRT), Central Arnhem (CA), Carnarvon (CAR), Channel Country (CHC), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Coolgardie (COO), Cobar Peneplain (CP), Central Ranges (CR), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Davenport Murchison Ranges (DMR), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Esperance Plains (ESP), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Finke (FIN), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Gascoyne (GAS), Gawler (GAW), Gibson Desert (GD), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Great Victoria Desert (GVD), Hampton (HAM), Jarrah Forest (JF), Kanmantoo (KAN), Little Sandy Desert (LSD), MacDonnell Ranges (MAC), Mallee (MAL), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Mulga Lands (ML), Murchison (MUR), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Nullarbor (NUL), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Pilbara (PIL), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD), Stony Plains (STP), Sturt Plateau (STU), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Tanami (TAN), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Warren (WAR), Wet Tropics (WT), Yalgoo (YAL) ; Tas: Ben Lomond (BEL), King (KIN), Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH), Tasmanian Northern Midlands (TNM), Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS), Tasmanian South East (TSE)

History of changes

• Dromaius baudinianus Parker, S.A. 1984. The extinct Kangaroo Island Emu, a hitherto-unrecognised species. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists Union 104: 19-22.

Introduction

Extinct.

Distribution

States

South Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Extinct, restricted to Kangaroo Island, South Australia.

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

SA: Kanmantoo (KAN)

Distribution References

Common Name References

Anonymous 1969. An Index of Australian Bird Names. Division of WIldlife Research Technical Paper. Canberra : CSIRO Vol. No. 20 pp. 93. [5] (Dwarf Emu)

Christidis, L. & Boles, W.E. 1994. The Taxonomy and Species of Birds of Australia and its Territories. Monograph 2. Melbourne : Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union iv 112 pp. (Kangaroo Island Emu)

Christidis, L. & Boles, W.E. 2008. Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 288 pp. [14] (Kangaroo Island Emu)

History of changes

• Dromaeus minor Spencer, W.B. 1906. The King Island Emu. The Victorian Naturalist 23(7): 139-140 [140].
• Dromaius parvulus Mathews, G.M. 1910. The Birds of Australia. London : H.F. & G. Witherby Vol. 1 pp. [19] [originally attributed to Gould in Broderip 1842 but Mathews suggested as author].
• Dromaeus bassi Legge, W.V. 1907. The Emus of Tasmania and King Island. The Emu 6(3): 116-119 [119].
• Dromaius ater Vieillot, L.P. 1817. Nouveau Dictionnaire d'Historie Naturelle, applicquée aux Arts, principalement à l'Agriculture et à l'Économie rurale et domestique par une Société de Naturalistes et d'Agriculteurs. Paris : Déterville Vol. 10 pp. [212].
• Dromaius peroni Rothschild, W.L. 1907. Extinct birds. An attempt to unite in one volume a short account of those birds which have become extinct in historical times, that is within the last six or seven hundred years; to which are added a few which still exist, but are on the verge of extinction. London : Hutchinson pp. xxiv + 244. [235] (pl. 40).
• Dromiceius spenceri Mathews, G.M. 1912. A Reference-List to the Birds of Australia. Novitates Zoologicae 18: 171-455 [Date published 31 Jan 1912] [176].

  Secondary source:

   Spencer, W.B. 1906. The King Island Emu. The Victorian Naturalist 23(7): 139-140; Mathews, G.M. 1910. The Birds of Australia. London : H.F. & G. Witherby Vol. 1 pp. (Pl. 4).

Introduction

Extinct.

Distribution

States

Tasmania

Extra Distribution Information

Extinct. Restricted to King Island, Tasmania.

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

Tas: King (KIN)

Distribution References

Common Name References

Anonymous 1969. An Index of Australian Bird Names. Division of WIldlife Research Technical Paper. Canberra : CSIRO Vol. No. 20 pp. 93. [5] (Black Emu)

Christidis, L. & Boles, W.E. 1994. The Taxonomy and Species of Birds of Australia and its Territories. Monograph 2. Melbourne : Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union iv 112 pp. (King Island Emu)

Christidis, L. & Boles, W.E. 2008. Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 288 pp. [14] (King Island Emu)

History of changes

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

IBRA

ACT, NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Vic, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Burt Plain (BRT), Central Arnhem (CA), Carnarvon (CAR), Channel Country (CHC), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Coolgardie (COO), Cobar Peneplain (CP), Central Ranges (CR), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Davenport Murchison Ranges (DMR), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Esperance Plains (ESP), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Finke (FIN), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Gascoyne (GAS), Gawler (GAW), Gibson Desert (GD), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Great Victoria Desert (GVD), Hampton (HAM), Jarrah Forest (JF), Kanmantoo (KAN), Little Sandy Desert (LSD), MacDonnell Ranges (MAC), Mallee (MAL), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Mulga Lands (ML), Murchison (MUR), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Nullarbor (NUL), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Pilbara (PIL), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD), Stony Plains (STP), Sturt Plateau (STU), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Tanami (TAN), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Warren (WAR), Wet Tropics (WT), Yalgoo (YAL) ; Tas: Ben Lomond (BEL), Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH), Tasmanian Northern Midlands (TNM), Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS), Tasmanian South East (TSE)

Distribution References

Common Name References

Christidis, L. & Boles, W.E. 1994. The Taxonomy and Species of Birds of Australia and its Territories. Monograph 2. Melbourne : Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union iv 112 pp. (Emu)

Christidis, L. & Boles, W.E. 2008. Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 288 pp. [14] (Emu)

History of changes

• Casuarius diemenianus Jennings, J. 1827. Ornithologia; or The Birds: a poem, in two parts; with an introduction to their natural history; and copious notes. London : Poole & Edwards xxix 468 pp. [publication dated as 1828 Mathews, G.M. 1925. The Birds of Australia. Supplements 4 & 5. Bibliography of the Birds of Australia Pts 1 & 2. London : H.F. & G. Witherby viii 149 pp. Mathews, G.M. 1919. The Birds of Australia. London : Witherby & Co. Vol. 7 pt 5 pp. 385–499 + xii pls 363–370 Appendixes A & B].
• Dromiceius novaehollandiae gunni Mathews, G.M. (In Mathews, G.M. & Iredale, T.) 1922. An extraordinary bird book. Austral Avian Records 4: 172-175 [175] (Replacement name for Dromaius diemenianus Jennings).
• Dromaeus diemenensis Le Souëf, 1907.

Distribution

States

Tasmania

Extra Distribution Information

Extinct, restricted to Tasmania

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

Tas: Ben Lomond (BEL), Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH), Tasmanian Northern Midlands (TNM), Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS), Tasmanian South East (TSE)

Distribution References

Common Name References

Anonymous 1969. An Index of Australian Bird Names. Division of WIldlife Research Technical Paper. Canberra : CSIRO Vol. No. 20 pp. 93. [5] (Emu)

History of changes

• Casuarius novaehollandiae Latham, J. 1790. Index ornithologicus, sive Systema Ornithologiae; complectens avium divisionem in classes, ordines, genera, species, ipsarumque varietates: adjectis synonymis, locis, descriptionibus, &c. London : Leigh & Sotheby Vol. 1 & 2 xviii 920 pp. [665].
• Casuarius australis Shaw, G. & Nodder, F.P. 1792. The Naturalist's Miscellany, or coloured figures of natural objects; drawn and described from nature. London Vol. 3 pls 88–110, unnumbered pages. [pl. 99].
• Dromiceius emu Stephens, J.F. 1826. In, General Zoology or Systematic Natural History, commenced by the late George Shaw, M.D.F.R.S. & C. Aves. London : J. & A. Arch etc. Vol. XIV Pt I 385 pp. pls 1-41. [published late 1826] [307, pl. 39].
• Dromaeus irroratus Bartlett, A.D. 1859. Indications of the Existence of a Second Species of Emeu (Dromæus). Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London (XXVII): 205 [205].
• Dromiceius novaehollandiae rothschildi Mathews, G.M. 1912. A Reference-List to the Birds of Australia. Novitates Zoologicae 18: 171-455 [Date published 31 Jan 1912] [175].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1939.12.9.1149 Skin, KOnjonup district, Gracefield, Western Australia.
• Dromiceius novaehollandiae woodwardi Mathews, G.M. 1912. A Reference-List to the Birds of Australia. Novitates Zoologicae 18: 171-455 [Date published 31 Jan 1912] [175].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1939.12.9.1138 Skin, Strelly River, Western Australia.
• Dromaius novaehollandiae montanus Campbell, A.G. 1939. Description of a new form of Emu. Bird Observers Club Monthly Notes (No. 91): 2 [While Campbell later noted this (on the egg) as being the type [=holotype] and B.2209 as the co-type [=paratype] this is not what is inferred in his original description] [2].
• Dromiceius major Brookes, J. 1830. A Descriptive and Historical Catalogue of the remainder of the Anatomical and Zoological Museum of Joshua Brookes, Esq., F.R.S. London : J. Brookes Pt II pp. [nomen nudum].

  Secondary source:

   Mathews, G.M. 1924. In Proceedings of meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club, March 12, 1924. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 44: 69-70 [70].

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

ACT, NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Vic, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Burt Plain (BRT), Central Arnhem (CA), Carnarvon (CAR), Channel Country (CHC), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Coolgardie (COO), Cobar Peneplain (CP), Central Ranges (CR), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Davenport Murchison Ranges (DMR), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Esperance Plains (ESP), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Finke (FIN), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Gascoyne (GAS), Gawler (GAW), Gibson Desert (GD), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Great Victoria Desert (GVD), Hampton (HAM), Jarrah Forest (JF), Kanmantoo (KAN), Little Sandy Desert (LSD), MacDonnell Ranges (MAC), Mallee (MAL), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Mulga Lands (ML), Murchison (MUR), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Nullarbor (NUL), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Pilbara (PIL), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields (SSD), Stony Plains (STP), Sturt Plateau (STU), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Tanami (TAN), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Warren (WAR), Wet Tropics (WT), Yalgoo (YAL)

Common Name References

Anonymous 1969. An Index of Australian Bird Names. Division of WIldlife Research Technical Paper. Canberra : CSIRO Vol. No. 20 pp. 93. [5] (Emu)

History of changes