Adult southern cassowaries are 5-6ft ((1,5-1,8m)) tall, although some females may reach 6,6ft ((2m)) and weight 129lb ((58,5kg)). Their second toe, the inner one in the medial position, sports a dagger-like claw that can be 5in ((12,7cm)) long. This bird can run at up to 31 mph ((50 km/h)) through the dense forest and can jump up to 5ft ((1,5m)). They are good swimmers, crossing wide rivers and swimming in the sea.
All cassowaries are usually shy birds, found in the deep forest, but they have a reputation in folklore for being dangerous to people and domestic animals. This claw is particularly fearsome since cassowaries sometimes kick humans and animals with their enormously powerful legs. This assessment of the danger posed by cassowaries has been repeated in print by authors including Gregory S. Paul and Jared Diamond. A 2003 historical study of 221 cassowary attacks showed that 150 had been against humans. 75% of these had been from cassowaries that had been fed by people. 71% of the time the bird had chased or charged the victim. 15% of the time they kicked. Of the attacks, 73% involved the birds expecting or snatching food, 5% involved defending natural food sources, 15% involved defending themselves from attack, and 7% involved defending their chicks or eggs. The 150 attacks included only one human death.
Interesting thing is that they look like Corythoraptor found in China.
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