What are ratites?
Q: What are ratites?
A: Ratites are a group of medium to large birds, most of which are flightless.
Q: Are most of the largest ratites still alive?
A: No, most of them, including the largest (moas and elephant birds) are now extinct.
Q: What is the difference between ratites and other flightless birds?
A: Unlike other flightless birds, ratites have no keel on their sternum. In a flying bird the sternum anchors the wing muscles.
Q: Did most parts of the former super-continent Gondwana have ratites?
A: Yes, most parts of the former super-continent Gondwana have ratites, or did have until the fairly recent past.
Q: Who are the closest living relatives of ratites?
A: The closest living relatives of ratites are the tinamous of South America.
Q: What does the classification used in the text include?
A: The classification used in the text includes all ratites in the order Struthioniformes, but not the tinamous.
Q: Is it possible for the classification used in the text to change in the future?
A: Yes, it is possible for the classification used in the text to change in the future.
