The dwarf cassowary, also known as Bennett's cassowary, little cassowary, mountain cassowary or muruk, is the smallest of the three extant species of cassowaries.
Region
New Guinea and Bismarck Archipelago
Typical Environment
Occupies dense montane and submontane rainforests with thick understory, often in rugged, steep terrain. It favors areas with abundant fruiting trees and will use secondary growth, edges, and regenerating forest. On islands like New Britain and Yapen, it can occur at somewhat lower elevations where suitable cover and fruit are available. Typically solitary and elusive, it keeps to the forest floor, following game trails and stream corridors.
Altitude Range
200–3300 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The dwarf cassowary, also called Bennett's cassowary or muruk, is the smallest of the three living cassowary species. It is a secretive, forest-dwelling, flightless bird with a casque on its head and a single wattle. Males incubate the eggs and care for the striped chicks for months. As a key seed disperser, it helps maintain the health and regeneration of New Guinea’s montane rainforests.
Dwarf cassowary in Lae, New Guinea
Drawing from Gatherings of a naturalist in Australasia by George Bennett (1860)
Egg of Dwarf Cassowary
Chicks
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
flightless; powerful runner
Social Behavior
Generally solitary except during the breeding season. Nests are shallow ground scrapes lined with leaves and vegetation in secluded forest sites. Females may mate with multiple males; males incubate the clutch and then guard and lead the chicks for several months.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations include deep, low-frequency booms that can travel through dense forest, along with hisses and grunts. Calls are used for spacing, courtship, and parent–chick contact.
