All items sold on this website are polyurethane resin replicas, made in USA. No real or natural bone is available on this site.
Rhea americana Skull Replica measures 6×2.9×3 inches. Rhea americana Skull Replica is museum quality polyurethane cast. 2-part skull (separate cranium and jaw). Made in USA.
The Greater Rhea or Rhea americana is a species of flightless bird native to eastern South America. Other names for the greater rhea include the grey, common, or American rhea; ema (Portuguese); or ñandú (Guaraní and Spanish).
One of two species in the genus Rhea, in the family Rheidae, it inhabits a variety of open areas, such as grasslands, savanna or grassy wetlands. 44–60 lb., the greater rhea is the largest native bird in the Americas.
In the wild, the Rhea americana or greater rhea has a life expectancy of 10.5 years. It is also notable for its reproductive habits, and for the fact that a population has established itself in Northern Germany in recent years. The species is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.
The Greater Rhea derives its scientific name from Rhea, a Greek goddess, and the Latinized form of America. It was originally described by Carl Linnaeus in his 18th-century work, Systema Naturae under the name Struthio camelus americanus.
Rhea americana or Greater Rhea are from the family Rheidae, and the order Rheiformes. They are closely related to other ratites such as emus, ostriches, cassowaries, and kiwi, along with the extinct forms: moa and elephant birds.
The adults have an average weight of 44–60 lb. and often measure 50 to 55 in. long from beak to tail; they usually stand about 4 ft 11 in. tall. The males are generally bigger than the females.
The head and bill are fairly small, the latter measuring 3.1–4.1 in. in length. The legs are long, with the tarsus measuring between 13.2 and 14.6 in., and strong and have 22 horizontal plates on the front of the tarsus.
They have three toes, and the hind toe is absent. The wings of the Rhea americana are rather long; the birds use them during running to maintain balance during tight turns, and also during courtship displays.
After mating, females lay their eggs in the male’s nest, with clutches from multiple females resulting in nests containing up to 80 eggs. The male takes sole responsibility for incubation and chick rearing, with the incubation period lasting 29–43 days.
The greater rhea’s vocal repertoire is limited, with males producing a low booming sound during the breeding season and chicks emitting a whistle.
Greater rheas are omnivorous, with a diet consisting of broad-leaved foliage, seeds, fruits, insects, scorpions, fish, small rodents, reptiles, and small birds. They are known to consume pebbles to aid in digestion and occasionally ingest metallic objects due to their attraction to shiny items.
The IUCN lists the greater rhea as Near Threatened, with a decreasing population due to habitat loss and hunting. Conservation efforts are in place to manage international trade and protect the species in its non-native German range.
