Kiwi can refer to a climbing plant and an animal, specifically a New Zealand bird.
The kiwi is a species of edible fruit native to Southeast Asia, it belongs to the Actinidiaceae family ( Actinidiaceae ), and of the Actinidia genus, it has more than 60 species, of which the most important and commercial ones are Actinidia chinensis, Actinidia deliciosa and Actinidia arguta.
Native to southern China, commercial cultivation began in 1930 in New Zealand, where its name probably comes from there because of the similarity between its fruit and the kiwi bird, since it has many villi like the feathers of that bird. In 1959, the name kiwifruit was accepted in international trade, and in the 70s its cultivation spread to other countries in the temperate zone (Chile, Brazil, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and the USA).
Its fruit is small, oval in shape with greenish-brown skin covered with a fine fluff, which contains an emerald green pulp with tiny black seeds arranged in a circle and around a cream-white heart known as columella.
Kiwifruit is an exotic fruit with a high water content and fiber, low in cholesterol, and a high intake of vitamin C and E. It produces anticancer effects, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity, improves the immune system and increases the body's defenses. Also, it provides other essential nutrients such as phosphate, magnesium and copper.
Regarding the Kiwi as a bird, this is the national bird of New Zealand and the most famous bird that could not fly. It belongs to the Apterygid family ( Apterygidae ), of the genus Apteryx "without wings". There are three species of this animal; the brown or brown kiwi ( Apteryx australis ), the greater speckled kiwi ( Apteryx haastii ), and the lesser speckled kiwi ( Apteryx owenii ).
It is a very strange type of bird. It does not fly, nor does it live in trees like normal birds, since it has very small wings under its thick feathers, and that is why it lives in the forest land of New Zealand looking for food in dead leaves and soil (especially worms and other small invertebrates, seeds, and berries) through smell, a rare feature among birds.
All its species are similar, with rudimentary wings, a robust and compact body, strong legs, and holes at the end of its long, thin flexible bill. It is a nocturnal bird, its eyes are tiny and its sight is poor, and it may have evolved this way to avoid being prey to the giant eagles.
Currently the kiwi is in danger of extinction, due to the persecution of stoats, opossums, mice, dogs, among others. Also, that in earlier times their species were devastated by the trade in their feathers. Therefore, New Zealanders have a large conservation program to protect their precious kiwis.
