Types of Ostrich

The Arabian ostrich or Syrian ostrich (Struthio camelus syriacus) is an extinct subspecies of the ostrich that lived on the Arabian Peninsula and in the Near East until the mid-20th century.

An ostrich in Masai Mara, Kenya. Credit: Image Focus | Shutterstock Ostriches are large, flightless birds that have long legs and a long neck that protrudes from a round body.

The North African ostrich was the most widespread subspecies of ostrich. It formerly had an extensive range but is now thought to live in fragmented pockets in Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic and Senegal, whilst extinct in most of its range in northern Africa.

The Somali ostrich (Struthio molybdophanes) also known as the blue-necked ostrich is a large flightless bird native to the Horn of Africa. It was previously considered a subspecies of the common ostrich, but was identified as a distinct species in 2014.

The southern ostrich (Struthio camelus australis), also known as the black-necked ostrich, Cape ostrich or South African ostrich is a subspecies of the common ostrich endemic to Southern Africa. It is widely farmed for its meat, eggs and feathers.