Somali Ostrich - Taxonomy and Systematics

Taxonomy and Systematics

Molecular evidence indicates that the East African Rift has served as a geographic barrier to isolate the taxon from the nominate subspecies, the North African Ostrich S. c. camelus, while ecological and behavioural differences have kept it genetically distinct from the neighbouring Masai Ostrich S. c. massaicus. An examination of the mitochondrial DNA of Struthio taxa, including the extinct Arabian Ostrich S. c. syriacus, has found that the Somali Ostrich is phylogenetically the most distinct, appearing to have diverged from their common ancestor some 3.6 to 4.1 million years ago.