Is this why the Ostrich is said to 'bury it's head in the sand'? I have
often wondered where that saying originated. Is there any evidence of
Ostriches (or Emus) burying their heads during extreme heat. Or do they do
it during sand storms? Just wondering.
Val Curtis
Stephen Ambrose said:
"Phillip Veerman is also correct in saying that some arid-zone bird species
have short feathers or bare skin to increase convective heat loss. The most
notable of these species in Australia is the Emu which has very short
feathers and well-vascularised skin on the head and neck (known
physiologically as heat or thermal window). In addition, it is important to
recognise that the most important part of the body to keep cool is the
brain. The Emu is the bird species with the smallest brain relative to body
size, its brain has a high surface-area to volume ratio and so it is adapted
to losing more convective heat than a bird with a relatively smaller brain
size. Interestingly, if emus are near a water source on a hot day they will
splash water over their head and neck, which would result in evaporative
cooling."
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