Are cassowary birds related to dinosaurs?

Cassowaries belong to the group of birds known as ratites, which is believed to have diverged from other bird groups before modern feathered birds evolved. While they are considered to be modern-day birds, they share some characteristics with their ancient dinosaur ancestors, such as having a wishbone that is not fused and flightlessness. Ratites are widely regarded as the closest living relatives of the dinosaurs, including Tyrannosaurus rex and Velociraptor.

Cassowaries, along with other ratite birds like ostriches and emus, have certain features similar to those found in some dinosaurs. For instance, they have relatively small wings compared to their body size and primarily use their legs for locomotion. Their legs have powerful muscles and three-toed feet, just like many theropod dinosaurs, including their iconic ancestor, Tyrannosaurus rex.

Cassowaries also have unique skeletal features that have been linked to their dinosaur ancestry. Their breastbones, for example, lack a keel or carina, which serves as an attachment point for flight muscles in most other birds. Instead, they have a flat sternum, much like some non-avian dinosaurs.

Moreover, cassowaries, along with other ratites, have a unique set of feathers that differ from those of most modern birds. Their feathers are simple in structure, lacking the interlocking barbules that create the typical cohesive and aerodynamic plumage seen in flying birds. Instead, their feathers are hair-like and loosely attached, reminiscent of the feathers of certain prehistoric dinosaurs.

It's important to note that while cassowaries share evolutionary traits and characteristics with ancient dinosaurs, they are not directly descended from dinosaurs in the sense that they are not living dinosaurs themselves. Rather, they are considered modern birds that evolved from a common ancestor with dinosaurs millions of years ago.