The emu is the second largest living bird (the largest is the ostrich of Africa). The emu is flightless, and like other "ratite" birds (large flightless birds including the ostrich, cassowary, rhea and kiwi) it does not have a keel, used in flighted birds for anchoring flight muscles.  Emus and other ratites do have wings, but they are small.

Emus have very powerful legs that are designed for running. Their feathers are brownish black with a hairy and drooping appearance that is visibly "parted" in the middle down the center of the back. Their head and long neck have few feathers and there are bare spots on their sides. While the sexes are similar in color, only the females have black feathers on the head and neck during breeding season.

The emu can be found in all habitats in Australia except rainforests but are most commonly found in the savanna grasslands and open forests adn are only rarely seen in deserts. They will often use cattle and sheep farms where they take advantage of available water sources. 

Longevity
In zoos, the emu can live longer than 10 years.

Reproduction
Sexual maturity is reached after 2 to 3 years but breeding in captivity can occur as young as 20 months. Females are dominant over males and initiate courtship. The male builds the nest into which the female will lay 5 to 15 large, blue-green eggs at 2to 4 day intervals. Each egg weighs 1 to 1.5 pounds. Incubation of the eggs is done by the male and typically starts after the last egg is laid so that all the eggs hatch close together about 56 days later. The female takes no part in incubation or in the rearing of the chicks. The male will continue to protect and feed the chicks for 5 to 7 months and at times longer. In the meantime, the female may have moved on and mated with another male, again leaving incubation and chick care to this second mate. This type of mating system, with the female taking successive mates, is called successive or sequential polyandry.

Behavior
Emus are terrestrial and nomadic and are able to walk long distances at 4 miles per hour. They can reach 30 miles per hour when running. They live either alone, in pairs or sometimes in groups of up to 9 birds. Their wanderings are intended to follow rains as they need to drink at least once a day.  When food and water are readily available, Emus will be sedentary.  They are not very vocal birds but will make loud booming noises.

Adaptations
Emus have long, strong legs that allow them to walk long distances at a constant 4 miles per hour or run as fast as 30 miles per hour. They store large amounts of fat when food is abundant, the male uses these reserves during the 8 weeks of incubation when he does not eat at all .