Animals
Scimitar-horned Oryx
Class: Mammal
Geographical Region: Africa
- Distribution & Habitat
- Description & Behaviour
- Reproduction
- Diet
- Threats & Conservation
- Interesting information
Distribution & Habitat
Once found over much of northern Africa in arid semi-desert and grassy steppes, this oryx is now classed as Extinct in the Wild.
The release of free-ranging animals in Tunisia in February 2007 marks the first stage in reintroduction in the wild.
Description & Behaviour
The scimitar-horned oryx is extremely sociable, and there is a distinct reluctance in individuals to remain solitary. Breeding herds of approximately a dozen were normal in the wild, but they could contain up to sixty animals.
A large, heavy antelope, their horns are long and curved of around one metre in length. Both males and females have horns. Because of their thinness, the horns are fairly fragile and are prone to breaking. The Scimitar Oryx is just over a metre at the shoulder and weighs around 200kg.
Scimitar-horned oryx are nomadic, wandering great distances in search of grazing. Herds would join together when grazing was plentiful, numbering in thousands.
They have numerous physiological adaptations to desert life which allow them to go without drinking water for weeks. Specialsed kidneys prevent excess loss of water through urine, while perspiration is minimised by raising body temperature to a maximum of 46.5 Celsius. Only after this point does it start to perspire.
Reproduction
About eight months after mating, females give birth to a single calf weighing about 10kg. While the scimitar-horned oryx is an opportunistic breeder, births peak in March and October. Within hours after birth, both mothers and calves return to the main herd.
Oryx mothers will “tuck” their babies into safe nooks and crannies while they search for food.
Diet
They eat grasses, fruit, leaves and can survive without water if succulent vegetation is available.
Threats & Conservation
Oryx are important to the habitats where they live. As browsers, these antelope help keep vegetation from becoming overgrown. They also serve as a food source for carnivores such as leopards, lions, birds of prey, and young baboons.
Habitat destruction and overhunting brought the Scimitar-horned Oryx to the brink of extinction by the mid 1980s. They would be extinct today without global captive breeding programs.
The release of free-ranging animals in Tunisia in February 2007 marks the first stage in reintroduction in the wild. Once viable offspring are produced, or a period of five years from that date has elapsed, it will become eligible for a transfer to a different category. However reintroduction of oryx in some areas is problematic because they are migratory animals, and move to vast pastures. Unfortunately, livestock or crops now occupy most pastures.
Interesting information
- Egyptians used to bind the horns of oryx together to make them appear like they had one horn. Soon their horns would grow together. This may be where the unicorn myths began.
- These animals usually live in herds of 20-40 individuals, but have been sighted at herds of 1000.
- An Arabian Oryx named 'Orry' served as an unofficial mascot of the 2006 Asian Games held at Doha.
- Oryx eyes are considered beautiful by Arabs of Arabia and are usually used to describe the beauty of women's eyes.
- A skit on Sesame Street shows six oryx walking by while a group of kids apparently count them.
- In Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel "Oryx and Crake," one of the primary characters names herself after the animal.
- Oryx, along with Lions, Zebras, Leopards, Ostriches, Capuchin Monkeys and an Elephant, can be seen in Shawn Levy's children's movie Night at the Museum, wherein taxidermic models of them at the Museum of Natural History are brought to life each night by an ancient Egyptian curse.
- Oryx have an unusual circulation system in their heads to cool their blood.
- Oryx can sense rainfall far away and will travel up to 80 kilometers to feed on freshly sprouted vegetation.
- Scimitar-horned oryx are all but extinct in the wild, yet they are one of the most common antelope species in zoos.
- Oryx are also nicknamed "spear antelope."
- It is generally the female that leads the search for water and food, with the lead male bringing up the rear. Because of their dry habitat food can be scarce, so the males follow to protect their harem herd rather than trying to defend a large food range or territory.
- The scimitar-horned oryx gets its common name from the shape of its horns: they look like long, curved Arabian swords called scimitars.