

Instead of running straight, it tends to run in circles, which increases its chances of getting caught. Each one of its feet has 4-inches claws that can cause serious harm to predators as big as lions, hyenas, and cheetahs.ĭespite its powerful eyesight and tremendous speed, the ostrich isn’t always very successful when it comes to eluding predators. When fleeing is not an option, these birds use their powerful legs and feet to kick their predators hard. When confronted by common predators such as lions, cheetahs, and hyenas, ostriches try to outrun the enemies and can sprint as fast as 70km/h and hold steady speeds of approximately 50km/h. With their big eyes with enhanced vision combined with long necks and legs, these birds are able to spot predators and food from a long distance. An excellent vision allows ostriches to adapt and thrive in their natural habitats. Their exceptionally huge eyes offer them a big advantage. How Do Ostrich’s Big Eyes Benefit the Animal? Recent research also indicates that the brain of an ostrich is underdeveloped. Additionally, the brain is 17 times lighter than those of domestic fowls.

Given that the average weight of the bird is around 330 lbs (150kg), this fact is quite shocking. The skull of an ostrich showing its large eye socketsĪn ostrich’s brain represents only 0.015% of its total body weight. Therefore, the surface area of an ostrich’s cerebellum is significantly larger. The brain also has numerous transverse fissures of the cerebellar vermis compared to the brains of domestic fowls. In studies, the cerebellum of the ostrich’s brain appears well developed and protrudes dorsally. Well, the average length and width of an ostrich brain are 2.3 in (59.26mm) x 1.7 in (42.30mm) and it typically weighs 0.9 oz (26.34g). If each one of its eyeballs is larger than its brain, just how big or small is the brain itself? So you’re probably wondering, how big is the brain of an ostrich? How Big is the Brain of an Ostrich? In fact, their eyes are 5 times bigger than those of humans or any other living land animal in the world.

Because they take up so much room in the skull, the ostrich’s brain is actually smaller than either one of its eyeballs. It’s even more interesting because these animals have small heads which simply means that the space left is not enough to accommodate a big brain.Įach eye measures approximately 2 inches (5 centimeters) in diameter from front to back. You can just imagine how massive they are. However, what many people don’t know is that this large bird also has eyeballs that are larger than its brain.Īn ostrich’s eyes are the size of billiard balls. The ostrich is also known for its great speed. It’s a well-known fact that the ostrich is the largest flightless bird in the whole animal kingdom. The ostrich is the only bird in the world that has eyeballs that are bigger than its brain!
