Re: Feathering in coelurosaurs

["Timothy Williams" <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

Matthew Bonnan wrote:

> On the avian side of things, ostriches, emus, and other large
> ground birds are relatively drab as well.

Cassowaries (_Casuarius_, three spp.) are brightly colored.  These are big 
ratite birds from northern Australia and New Guinea.  The skin of the neck 
and head is brightly colored, as are the wattles that hang from the head.  
The wattles can be bright red.  The skin of the face and throat may be blue 
or purple, the hue changing from the face to the throat.  Other colors 
include green and yellow (such as the casque).  The feathers are a glossy 
black.

There are nice pics at:

http://www.brookfield-zoo.mus.il.us/animals/cassowary.html
http://www.ozramp.net.au/~senani/cassow.htm


Tim
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