The cassowary is a large, flightless bird most closely related to the emu, ostriches, rheas and kiwis. Its name is from a Papuan word meaning ‘horned head’.
All cassowary species have a casque, also called a helmet, made of a sponge-like material and covered with a thick layer of keratin, the same thing our fingernails are made of.
The cassowary is rightfully considered the most dangerous bird in the world! Each 3-toed foot has a dagger-like claw on the inner toe that is up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) long!
The cassowary can slice open any predator or potential threat with a single swift kick. Powerful legs help the cassowary run up to 31 miles per hour (50 kilometers per hour) through the dense forest underbrush.