Discovery of Prehistoric Ostrich Nest | 10 Jul 2024
Recently, archaeologists have discovered a 41,000-year-old ostrich nest in Prakasam, Andhra Pradesh.
- This provides crucial insights into the extinction of megafauna (animals weighing more than 50 kg) in India.
- Earlier Evidences of Ostriches in India:
- Ostrich fossils were first reported in 1884 from the Dhok Pathan deposits in the Upper Siwalik Hills, Pakistan.
- The discovery of ostrich fossils in the Himalayas indicates the region had drier, cooler periods in the past due to weaker Indian monsoons, unlike peninsular India during the Pleistocene.
- Later, ostrich eggshell beads and engravings dating back to 50,000-40,000 years ago were found at an Upper Palaeolithic site in Patne, Maharashtra in 1989.
- In 2017, evidence showed that ostriches existed in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat 25,000 years ago.
- Ostrich fossils were first reported in 1884 from the Dhok Pathan deposits in the Upper Siwalik Hills, Pakistan.
- Ostriches (Struthio camelus):
- IUCN Status: Least Concern
- Largest Living Birds: 2-2.8 metres tall, weight 90-160 kg
- Flightless birds, exceptional runners with speeds up to 43 mph.
- Native to African savannas and deserts (Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa)
- Live in small herds (fewer than a dozen), led by males who primarily mate with the leading female.