Ancient Ostrich Nest Unearthed in Andhra Pradesh

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Context (IE): Archaeologists have unearthed a 41,000-year-old ostrich nest in Prakasam, Andhra Pradesh. This discovery is considered the world’s oldest known ostrich nest.

Megafauna

Megafauna refers to animals weighing over 50 kg, a term first coined by Alfred Russel Wallace in 1876.
These large animals are classified as megaherbivores, mega carnivores, or mega omnivores based on their diets. Ostriches, weighing 90-140 kg and 7-9 feet tall, fall into the mega omnivore category.

A study by Yale and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History (2020) suggests large animal extinction in India began around 30,000 years ago, coinciding with human arrival.
This research supports the “co-evolution hypothesis,” which proposes that fauna’s resilience to extinction may have resulted from coevolution with hominins (humans and their relatives).
It proposes that geographic isolation and environmental changes may have accelerated extinction.

1884: Richard Lydekker found evidence of the extinct Asian ostrich (Struthio asiaticus) in the Dhok Pathan deposits of the Upper Siwalik Hills (now in Pakistan).
1989: Archaeologist S. A. Sali discovered ostrich eggshell beads and engravings (50,000-40,000 years old) at an Upper Palaeolithic site in Patne, Maharashtra.
2017: CCMB researchers in Hyderabad identified ostrich presence in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat 25,000 years ago through fossilised eggshells linked to continental drift from Gondwanaland.

The ostrich is a flightless bird and the world’s largest avian species.
The ostrich is the tallest and heaviest bird in the world.
They inhabit the savannas and desert regions of Africa.
It derives most of its hydration from its plant-based diet.
Ostriches are exceptional runners and can achieve sprint speeds of up to 43 miles per hour.
Ostriches live in small herds, typically of fewer than a dozen birds. These groups are led by alpha males who mate primarily with the dominant hen.
IUCN Status: Least Concern.