The Ostrich (Struthio camelus), also known as the Common Ostrich, is a large African bird. It is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon, Zoo Tycoon 2, both DS games and Zoo Tycoon: The Board Game.
Description[]
The Ostrich is the largest species of bird in the world, weighing up to 145kg (320lbs) and 2.8m (9ft 2in) in height. Although flightless, it can run at speeds of 55km/h (34mph), sometimes faster, making it the fastest of all birds on land. The species displays distinct sexual dimorphism, with males being primarily black with white wing- and tail-feathers and the females being brown all over. Other notable features include its large eyes, said to be the largest of any land vertebrate, and its two-toed feet, unique among birds.
Ostriches are native to the savannahs of Africa. They are mainly herbivores, eating seeds and grass, but will occasionally eat insects. A male ostrich will mate with multiple females, who will in turn lay all their eggs in a single nest. The male and a single "major" female will then take turns incubating the eggs and raising the young once they hatch, with the major female's eggs being kept in the centre of the nest. It is believed that the act of moving the eggs in the nest led to the belief that ostriches bury their heads in the sand to avoid predators.
Zoo Tycoon[]
The Ostrich is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon and is available in the base game. In Freeform Mode, it is not available for adoption until September.
The Ostrich is a savannah animal and is easy to keep, although it is not entirely popular with guests. It requires a small patch of dirt and freshwater in its exhibit and can be mixed with other species including the Plains Zebra and Thomson's Gazelle.
Zoo Tycoon 2[]
The Ostrich, specifically the Southern or South African Ostrich, is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon 2.
As in the original Zoo Tycoon, the Ostrich is a savannah animal and can once again be mixed with other savannah animals. They require little shelter, with its only preference being the Shade Structure.
 zootycoon.com Description
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| The ostrich is the largest species of bird. Now found only in Africa, fossils indicate that the ostrich once also lived throughout Europe and Asia. Ostriches are the largest and strongest of living birds. Although flightless, ostriches are rapid runners. They spread their small wings when running and have long, powerful legs that are used for defense. The feet have only two toes. The white feathers of the male, which are large and soft, are the ostrich plumes of commercial value. |
Other Games[]
Zoo Tycoon: The Board Game[]
The Common Ostrich is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon: The Board Game. It is a Savannah animal in the Bird class and is a Level 1 Main Species. It is represented by its own meeple.
As a Level 1 animal, the Common Ostrich does not have any adoption requirements and can be adopted by any player. It is a highly social animal and is happiest in a group of over seven individuals, which can be a mixture of males and females. It also tolerates co-species. If successfully bred, the Common Ostrich produces three offspring, the most of any species.
The Common Ostrich is part of The Serengeti Conservation Project along with the plains zebra, Lion, Masai giraffe, black rhinoceros, blue wildebeest and the Fischer's lovebird.
The Common Ostrich is one of only 6 sexually dimorphic animals in the game, but unlike the other sexually dimorphic animals, it does not have different shaped meeples for male and female. Instead, the female meeples are simply painted brown, while the males are black.
Gallery[]
Zoo Tycoon 2[]
Zoo Tycoon: The Board Game[]
Trivia[]
- Zoo Tycoon: The Board Game is the only game in the Zoo Tycoon series to use the Common Ostrich's full name instead of shortening it to just Ostrich.
| Zoo Tycoon DS animals | |
|---|---|
| Standard Animals | African Buffalo • African Elephant • African Lion • African Warthog • American Bighorn Sheep • American Bison • Arctic Wolf • Bengal Tiger • Black Bear • Black Leopard • Black Rhinoceros • California Sea Lion • Cheetah • Chimpanzee • Clouded Leopard • Common Wildebeest • Dromedary Camel • Emperor Penguin • Gemsbok • Giant Anteater • Giant Panda • Giraffe • Gray Wolf • Greater Flamingo • Grizzly Bear • Hippopotamus • Ibex • Jaguar • Leopard • Lowland Gorilla • Mandrill • Markhor • Moose • Okapi • Olive Baboon • Ostrich • Plains Zebra • Polar Bear • Red Kangaroo • Saltwater Crocodile • Siberian Tiger • Snow Leopard • Spotted Hyena • Thomson's Gazelle • White Bengal Tiger |
| Unlockable Content | Asian Elephant • Kouprey • Onager • Orangutan • Unicorn |
| Zoo Tycoon 2 DS animals | |
|---|---|
| Standard Animals | African Elephant • Black Panther • Black Rhinoceros • California Sea Lion • Cheetah • Chimpanzee • Dolphin • Dromedary Camel • Galapagos Giant Tortoise • Giant Sable Antelope • Gray Wolf • Greater Flamingo • Grizzly Bear • Komodo Dragon • Lion • Masai Giraffe • Moose • Nile Crocodile • Ostrich • Orangutan • Polar Bear • Pygmy Hippopotamus • Red Kangaroo • Spanish Lynx • Wolverine • Zebra |
| Star Animals | American Beaver • Emperor Penguin • Giant Panda • Koala • Mountain Gorilla • Sea Otter |
| Amazing Animals | Saber-toothed Tiger • Triceratops • Unicorn • Yeti |