What discovery of prehistoric ostrich shells in Andhra means

Sub: Environment

Sec: Species in news

Context:

A team of archaeologists discovered a 41,000-year-old ostrich nest (world’s oldest known ostrich nest) in Prakasam, Andhra Pradesh, led by Devara Anil Kumar from MS University, Vadodara.
The nest, measuring 9-10 feet in width, originally housed 9-11 eggs but could hold up to 30-40 eggs, providing insights into ancient ostrich nesting habits.

Understanding Megafauna:

Megafauna refers to large animals weighing over 50 kg, categorized as megaherbivores (plant-eaters), megacarnivores (meat-eaters), or megaomnivores (who eat both plants and meat).
Ostriches, as megaomnivores, weigh 90-140 kg and stand 7-9 feet tall, making them significant members of prehistoric ecosystems.

Implications of the Andhra Discovery on Prehistoric Megafauna:

The ostrich nest discovery confirms the presence of ostriches in southern India 41,000 years ago.
This contributes to ongoing research on the extinction of megafauna in India, linking back to discoveries dating to the Upper Palaeolithic era and the contributions of previous studies such as those by S A Sali and the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB).

Insights and Research on Megafauna Extinction:

Research indicates megafaunal extinction in the Indian Subcontinent commenced around 30,000 years ago, coinciding with human migration.
The “co-evolution hypothesis” suggests human interaction and environmental changes as key factors in megafaunal extinction.
Current studies stress the importance of robust fossil datasets to deepen our understanding of this extinction process.

About Ostritches:

Large, flightless birds with two living species: the common ostrich (native to sub-Saharan Africa) and the Somali ostrich (native to the Horn of Africa).
Physical Characteristics: Heaviest and largest living birds, weighing 63.5-145 kg; lay the largest eggs of any land animal.
- Fastest birds on land, capable of running at 70 km/h (43.5 mph).
Farming and Industry: Farmed globally, with major industries in the Philippines and Namibia. South Africa, particularly Oudtshoorn, produces about 70% of global ostrich products. Ostrich leather is valuable, and feathers are used for ceremonial headgear. Ostrich eggs have been utilized by humans for millennia.
Taxonomy: Belong to the genus Struthio in the order Struthioniformes, part of the infra-class Palaeognathae, which includes other flightless birds like emus, rheas, cassowaries, kiwis, and the extinct elephant birds and moas.
Historical Range: The common ostrich was once native to the Arabian Peninsula and was present in Asia as far east as China and Mongolia during the Late Pleistocene and possibly into the Holocene.

Source: IE