Casuarius unappendiculatus rufotinctus

(Rothschild, 1900)

Vernacular names
English : Northern cassowary
French : Casoar unicaronculé

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Casuariiformes
Family : Casuariidae
Notes : 5 other subspecies known. Subspecies tend to be considered invalid. This subspecies is sometimes treated as a synonym of aurantiacus but is phenotypically very distinct.

Identification
The species grows to 1.50 meters high. Single teardrop shaped wattle on neck. Black plumage. This subspecies has bright red and blue naked parts (yellow on back) and large dark orange nape patch. Very high laterally flattened casque.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in most of the northern half of New Guinea and nearby islands. This subspecies occurs between the eastern end of Vogelkop Peninsula and the coasts near Yapen Island. It lives in rainforests and swamp forests in lowlands, up to 700 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is likely the most threatened of all three cassowaries. It suffers from habitat loss and is hunted for subsistence in most of its range.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation
Taman Safari Cisarua (Indonesia), Zoo Ragunan (Indonesia), TMII Bird Park (Indonesia), Zoo Surabaya (Indonesia), Weltvogelpark Walsrode (Germany)

 

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