Rhea (bird) Rhea (bird) The rheas () are large ratites (flightless birds without a keel on their sternum bone) in the order Rheiformes, native to South America, distantly related to the ostrich and emu. Most taxonomic authorities recognize two extant species: the greater or American rhea ("Rhea americana") and the lesser or Darwin's rhea ("Rhea pennata"). The IUCN lists the puna rhea ("Rhea tarapacensis") as a separate species. The IUCN currently rates the greater and puna rheas as near-threatened in their native ranges, while Darwin's rhea is of least concern. In addition, a feral population of the greater rhea in Germany appears
Flightless dung beetle Flightless dung beetle The flightless dung beetle ("Circellium bacchus") is a species of dung beetle endemic to a few areas of South Africa, including the Addo Elephant National Park and the Buffalo Valley Game Farm. It is the only species in the genus Circellium. The loss of flight allows the beetle to use the empty space below the elytra as a carbon dioxide storage tank, creating a unique breathing mechanism which conserves water, a valuable survival trait in the arid regions it lives in. The species was originally widespread in Southern Africa, but it only survives in the few areas