Casuariidae


The bird family Casuariidae has four surviving members: the three species of cassowary and the emu.
All living members of the family are very large flightless birds native to Australia-New Guinea.

Species

  • † Emuarius Boles, 1992
  • *† E. gidju Boles, 1992
  • *† E. guljaruba Boles, 2001
  • Casuarius Brisson, 1760
  • *† C. lydekkeri Rothschild, 1911
  • * C. casuarius
  • * C. unappendiculatus Blyth, 1860
  • * C. bennetti Gould, 1857
  • ** C. b. westermanni
  • ** C. b. bennetti Gould, 1857
  • Dromaius Vieillot, 1816
  • * †D. arleyekweke Yates & Worthy 2019
  • * †D. ocypus Miller 1963
  • * D. novaehollandiae
  • ** †D. n. diemenensis Le Souef, 1907
  • ** †D. n. minor Spencer, 1906
  • ** †D. n. baudinianus Parker, SA, 1984
  • ** ''D. n. novaehollandiae''

    Systematics and evolution

The fossil record of casuariforms is interesting, but not very extensive.
Some Australian fossils initially believed to be from emus were recognized to represent a distinct genus, Emuarius,
which had a cassowary-like skull and femur and an emu-like lower leg and foot.