{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "cassowary",
  "name": "Southern Cassowary",
  "scientificName": "Casuarius casuarius",
  "category": "Bird",
  "summary": "The southern cassowary is a large, flightless rainforest bird of Queensland and New Guinea, often called the world's most dangerous bird. It stands up to 1.8 m (6 ft) tall, weighs 40 to 60 kg (88 to 132 lb) and carries a dagger-like claw on each foot. It feeds mainly on fallen fruit and can sprint through dense forest at up to 50 km/h (31 mph). Though listed as Least Concern globally, its Australian population is under pressure, and wild birds live 30 to 40 years.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Aves",
    "order": "Casuariiformes",
    "family": "Casuariidae",
    "genus": "Casuarius"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 60,
    "lengthM": 1.8,
    "topSpeedKmh": 50,
    "lifespanYears": 40
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Casuarius casuarius"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Frugivore — rainforest fruit and fungi"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Tropical rainforest of Queensland and New Guinea"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "30–40 years in the wild"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "40–60 kg (88–132 lb); females larger and more colourful"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to 50 km/h (31 mph) through dense forest"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Tropical rainforest of northern Queensland, New Guinea, and Aru Islands — southern cassowary in Australia and New Guinea.",
    "continents": [
      "Oceania"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Casuarius casuarius.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Casuarius%20casuarius&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Casuarius casuarius. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Casuarius_casuarius/"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/cassowary/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/cassowary/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}