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What the sources say

Southern CassowaryCasuarius casuarius

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Southern Cassowary profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 59 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

Profile updated

Source
01

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Southern Cassowary. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

The page saysA five-inch dagger-like claw on each foot
The source saysa secret weapon being a five-inch-long dagger-like claw on each foot
The page saysRainforests of northeastern Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia's Ceram and Aru islands
The source saysSouthern cassowaries inhabit rainforests of northeastern Australia and the island of New Guinea, as well as the Indonesian islands of Ceram and Aru.
The page saysMostly fallen fruit
The source saysCassowaries mostly feast on fallen fruit, snails, and fungi
The page saysplus small mammals and reptiles, dead or alive
The source sayswhen they have high-protein cravings, they feed on small mammals and reptiles, dead or alive.
The page saysA five-inch dagger-like claw on each foot
The source saysa secret weapon being a five-inch-long dagger-like claw on each foot
The page saysarmed with a five-inch, dagger-like claw
The source saysa secret weapon being a five-inch-long dagger-like claw on each foot
The page saysMales weigh up to 55 kilograms (121 pounds)
The source saysMales up to 121 pounds (55 kilograms)
The page saysSouthern cassowaries live in rainforests of northeastern Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia's Ceram and Aru islands
The source saysSouthern cassowaries inhabit rainforests of northeastern Australia and the island of New Guinea, as well as the Indonesian islands of Ceram and Aru.
The page saysThey mostly eat fallen fruit, snails, and fungi, and also take small mammals and reptiles, dead or alive
The source saysCassowaries mostly feast on fallen fruit, snails, and fungi, but when they have high-protein cravings, they feed on small mammals and reptiles, dead or alive.
The page saysConservation scientists believe the cassowary is a keystone species, one that helps its forest regrow by spreading the seeds of several hundred rainforest plants far from the parent plant
The source saysConservation scientists believe this keystone species helps spread the seeds of several hundred rainforest plants, moving seeds far from the parent plant and helping to regenerate the ecosystem.
The page saysThe female lays three to five green eggs
The source saysSouthern cassowaries lay three to five green-colored eggs.
The page saysthe male incubates them for about 50 days
The source saysIncubation: About 50 days (by the male)
The page saysthen guards the chicks for about nine months as they learn to forage
The source sayshe will guard the chicks and protect them from predators for about nine months as they learn to forage.
The page saysBy the time the young are independent, they are nearly full-grown and able to defend themselves
The source saysBy the time the young are independent, they are nearly full-grown and able to defend themselves.
The page saysCassowaries are good swimmers that enjoy bathing in shallow water and mud wallows
The source saysCassowaries are good swimmers and enjoy bathing in shallow water and mud wallows.

Source
02

Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Southern cassowary. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

The page saysa leap of up to seven feet
The source saysthey are incredible jumpers and can launch themselves up to 7 feet off the ground!
The page saysa leap of up to seven feet off the ground
The source saysthey are incredible jumpers and can launch themselves up to 7 feet off the ground!
The page sayshas a razor-sharp inner toe on each foot
The source saystheir razor-sharp inner toes
The page saysIt cannot fly, but it can launch itself up to seven feet off the ground
The source saysCassowaries cannot fly, but they are incredible jumpers and can launch themselves up to 7 feet off the ground!
The page saysIt can grow to 1.7 meters (5.5 feet) tall
The source saysThey can grow to be 5.5 feet tall (170 centimeters).Note: 170 cm converted to 1.7 m
The page saysfemales are slightly larger
The source saysFemales are slightly larger than males
The page saysThe Smithsonian's National Zoo gives a wild lifespan of 18 to 20 years
The source saysIn the wild, they live for 18-20 years.Note: attributed because SDZ gives the wild life span as Unknown
The page saysup to 40 in human care
The source saysIn human care, cassowaries can live up to 40 years.
The page saysthe same substance as our hair and nails
The source sayskeratin, the same substance as our hair and nails

Source
03

Species Profile and Threats Database, Australian Government Department of the Environment 2026

Casuarius casuarius: Southern Cassowary. Species Profile and Threats Database, Australian Government Department of the Environment, 2026.

The page says(from over 200 plant species), snails, and fungi
The source saysCassowaries eat fleshy fruits of over 200 species of plantsNote: snails and fungi: SDZ, Cassowaries mostly feast on fallen fruit, snails, and fungi
The page saysThe Australian subspecies is listed as Endangered under Australian law
The source saysListed as Endangered as Casuarius casuarius johnsoniiNote: EPBC Act listing, effective 16-Jul-2000, current on the 2026 SPRAT page

Source
04

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018

Casuarius casuarius. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22678108A131902050.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).Note: read through GBIF's copy of the Red List, per docs/fact-check.md; the SDZ page still says Vulnerable, superseded by the 2018 assessment

Source
05

Eastick et al. 2019

Eastick et al. (2019). Cassowary casques act as thermal windows. Scientific Reports.

The page saysa casque that appears to work as a heat radiator
The source sayswe provide evidence that the casque acts as a thermal radiator, offloading heat at high temperatures and restricting heat loss at low temperatures
The page sayshas puzzled people for nearly 200 years
The source saysThe function of the casque has attracted considerable curiosity and speculation for nearly 200 yearsNote: as of 2019; the same sentence continues: yet its purpose remains unclear
The page saysA 2019 study pointed a heat-sensing camera at 20 southern cassowaries in zoos
The source saysn = 20) were photographed with a hand-held thermal imagerNote: the same Methods sentence: in zoological parks; the year is the reference's publication year; n = 20 is in the quote with a non-breaking space
The page saysacross a wide range of air temperatures
The source saysliving cassowaries over an expansive range of ambient temperatures
The page saysIt found evidence that the casque acts as a thermal radiator, a surface that sheds heat: it offloads heat when the air is hot and restricts heat loss when it is cold
The source sayswe provide evidence that the casque acts as a thermal radiator, offloading heat at high temperatures and restricting heat loss at low temperatures
The page saysAt in-between temperatures, the back half of the casque appeared to warm up before the front half
The source saysat intermediate temperatures, the casque appears thermally heterogeneous, with the posterior of the casque heating up before the front half.
The page saysA 2019 study used a heat-sensing camera on 20 southern cassowaries in zoos
The source saysn = 20) were photographed with a hand-held thermal imagerNote: the year is the reference's publication year; n = 20 is in the quote with a non-breaking space
The page saysIt found evidence that the casque acts as a thermal radiator: it offloads heat at high temperatures and restricts heat loss at low temperatures
The source sayswe provide evidence that the casque acts as a thermal radiator, offloading heat at high temperatures and restricting heat loss at low temperatures
The page saysAt in-between temperatures, its back half appeared to warm up before its front half
The source saysat intermediate temperatures, the casque appears thermally heterogeneous, with the posterior of the casque heating up before the front half.

Source
06

Kofron 1999

Kofron (1999). Attacks to humans and domestic animals by the southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius johnsonii) in Queensland, Australia. Journal of Zoology.

The page saysA 1999 review of attacks in Queensland, Australia
The source saysThe incidence of cassowary attacks in Queensland is reviewed.Note: the year is the reference's publication year
The page saysnoted that cassowaries and ostriches were the only birds known to have caused human deaths by physical attack
The source saysCassowaries and ostriches are the only birds world‐wide that have caused human deaths by physical attack.
The page saysIt gathered data on 221 cassowary attacks, 150 of them on people
The source saysData were obtained for 221 cassowary attacks, of which 150 were against humans
The page saysVictims were chased or charged in 71 percent of incidents and kicked in 15 percent
The source saysVictims were chased or charged in 71% of the incidents, and kicked in 15%.
The page saysSeven attacks on people caused serious injuries, and one of those led to a death: the victim was trying to kill the cassowary
The source saysSeven attacks against humans resulted in serious injuries ... and subsequently one death ... In the single fatal attack, the victim was trying to kill the cassowary.
The page saysThree-quarters of the attacks on people were by cassowaries that people had fed before
The source says150 were against humans, 75% of these by cassowaries fed previously by people.
The page saysin 73 percent of incidents the birds appeared to be expecting or begging for food
The source saysThe cassowaries appeared to be expecting or soliciting food from humans (73% of the incidents)
The page saysContrary to popular belief, jogging did not provoke attacks
The source saysContrary to popular belief, jogging did not incite cassowaries to attack.
The page saysA 1999 review of cassowary attacks in Queensland, Australia noted that cassowaries and ostriches were the only birds known to have caused human deaths by physical attack
The source saysCassowaries and ostriches are the only birds world‐wide that have caused human deaths by physical attack.Note: the year is the reference's publication year
The page saysof the 150 attacks on people it counted, only one led to a death, and the victim was trying to kill the bird at the time
The source says221 cassowary attacks, of which 150 were against humans ... Seven attacks against humans resulted in serious injuries ... and subsequently one death ... In the single fatal attack, the victim was trying to kill the cassowary.
The page saysThree-quarters of the attacks on people were by cassowaries that people had fed before
The source says150 were against humans, 75% of these by cassowaries fed previously by people.
The page saysin 73 percent of incidents the birds appeared to be expecting or begging for food
The source saysThe cassowaries appeared to be expecting or soliciting food from humans (73% of the incidents)
The page saysThe review concluded that cassowaries should not be considered dangerous, although they can cause serious injuries
The source saysAlthough cassowaries should not be considered dangerous, they can cause serious injuries.

Source
07

Kofron & Chapman 2006

Kofron & Chapman (2006). Causes of mortality to the endangered Southern Cassowary Casuarius casuarius johnsonii in Queensland, Australia. Pacific Conservation Biology.

The page saysAmong 110 cassowary deaths studied in Queensland from 1986 to 2004, vehicle strikes caused 55 percent and dog attacks 18 percent
The source saysThe leading cause of death for 110 cassowaries from 1986?2004 was motor vehicle strikes (55%), and the second leading cause of death was dog attacks (18%).Note: Queensland from the paper's title; the paper recorded 140 deaths, and the percentages are for these 110

Source
08

Bradford & Westcott 2011

Bradford & Westcott (2011). Predation of cassowary dispersed seeds: is the cassowary an effective disperser? Integrative Zoology.

The page saysA year-long study of the seeds of 11 plant species in cassowary droppings found that 70 percent still looked intact and viable after a month, and 38 percent after a year
The source saysmonitoring the fate of 11 species in southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius johnsonii Linnaeus) droppings over a period of 1 year ... After 1 month, 70% of seeds remained intact and outwardly viable, while the number fell to 38% after 1 year.

Source
09

Green et al. 2026

Green et al. (2026). Ultraviolet light illuminates species-specific biofluorescent casque patterns in cassowaries (Casuarius). Scientific Reports.

The page saysa casque that glows under ultraviolet light
The source sayscasque keratin in Casuarius is distinctly UV fluorescent at 365 nm and within 385–395 nm
The page saysglows under ultraviolet light
The source sayscasque keratin in Casuarius is distinctly UV fluorescent at 365 nm and within 385–395 nm
The page saysIts outer layer is keratin
The source saysthe cassowary keratinous casque sheathing
The page saysA 2026 study shone ultraviolet (UV) light on the heads of living cassowaries and museum specimens
The source sayswe exposed heads of living and museum-preserved cassowaries to UV wavelengthsNote: the year is the reference's publication year
The page saysEvery southern cassowary it examined showed biofluorescence
The source saysAll C. casuarius and C. unappendiculatus individuals exhibited biofluorescence
The page saysIn six living southern cassowaries, the glow covered about 65 percent of the side of the casque on average
The source saysLive C. casuarius individuals possess average lateral biofluorescence coverages of 64.92Note: n = 6 in the same sentence; 64.92 rounded to 65
The page saysThe glowing patterns differ between cassowary species and between individuals
The source saysthe biofluorescent casque coverage and patterns differ between and within species
The page sayseven though casque keratin appears dull in normal light
The source sayscasque keratin appears dull

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.