干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

1. The emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is a large (40 kg) diurnal bird that inhabits the arid inland of Australia where solar radiation levels can exceed 1000 W/m(2) for many hours of the day.

2. We measured the solar heat load at skin level below plumage samples from wild emus. At low wind speeds the heat load was less than 10% of the incident radiation load. This fell to less than 1% at wind speeds above 6 m/s.

3. Application of a simple model shows that the radiation is absorbed close to the surface of the plumage. The resultant heat is prevented from flowing to the skin by the coats’ insulation.

4. On an average summer day in the arid zone an emu will require less than 330 g of water to evaporate the solar heat load.