Casuariidae Casuariidae The bird family Casuariidae has four surviving members: the three species of cassowary and the emu. All living members of the family are very large flightless birds native to Australia-New Guinea, though the extinct potential member "Hypselornis" was native to India. The characteristics of the family are those of its members. The fossil record of casuariforms is interesting, but not very extensive. Some Australian fossils initially believed to be from emus were recognized to represent a distinct genus, "Emuarius", which had a cassowary-like skull and femur and an emu-like lower leg and foot. A Pliocene Indian ratite, "Hypselornis", has
Emu (ship) Emu (ship) Emu was merchant ship that transported convicts to Australia. An American privateer captured her in 1812 as she was carrying female convicts to Van Diemen's Land. Governor Lachlan Macquarie requested on 30 April 1810 that the British Government supply the colony with two brigs (colonial ships) that would not be subject to the control of the Admiralty. The British government provided "Emu" and "Kangaroo". Lieutenant Alexander Bisset received a letter of marque for "Emu" on 21 September 1812. "Emu" left England in October 1812 with 49 female convicts. While she was en route to Hobart Town, the American