Casuarius bennetti westermanni

(Hume, 1878)

Vernacular names
English : Dwarf cassowary
French : Casoar de Bennett

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Casuariiformes
Family : Casuariidae
Notes : 7 other subspecies known, subspecies sometimes referred to as papuanus. Subspecies tend to be considered invalid.

Identification
Adults can reach a total length of 1.10 m for a weight of 18 kg. Casque is triangular, neck mostly feathered with no wattles. Plumage black. This subspecies has violet-blue bare parts with red patch on lower neck and white patch on nape.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the mountains from north-west to south-east New Guinea. Also found in New Britain island. Subspecies found in western part of range. Lives in lowland and mountain forests and second growth, to 3600 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species’ main threat is hunting with firearms but habitat loss is also putting lots of pressure. It is declining at a slower pace than other cassowaries.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation
Eco Green Park (Indonesia), NOP (Netherlands), Weltvogelpark Walsrode (Germany)

 

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