How Did Ratites Evolve?

The longstanding story of ratite evolution was that they share a common flightless ancestor that lived in Gondwana, whose descendants were isolated from each other by continental drift, which carried them to their present locations.

Where did ratites originate?

Paleognaths originated in the Northern hemisphere during the late Early Cretaceous (115–105 million years ago). Between 70 and 80 million years ago, the ancestors of all extant paleognaths — except the ostrich which came to Africa from Eurasia — spread into the Southern hemisphere via South America.

What did ostriches evolve from?

Peter Houde, an ornithologist at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington who has spent six years tracking down ostrich fossils, said flightless birds such as the ostrich and kiwi probably evolved “backwards” from birds that flew during the age of dinosaurs.