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Measurements Height:
1.4m (at the shoulder |
Diet Oryx eat grasses, herbs, juicy roots, and buds. |
Identification These desert antelopes derived their name from the curved "scimitar" swords, used for centuries by the Arabian people. Both male and female oryx have horns. They are mostly white with reddish brown necks and marks on the face and a long, dark, tufted tail. The white coat helps reflect the heat of the desert. |
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Behaviour The horns are mainly used in ritualised sparring competitions between rival males, and sometimes during courtship. During the wet season, herds migrate north into the Sahara, returning south as the dry season approaches. They have numerous physiological adaptations to desert life which allow them to go without drinking water for weeks (or possibly even months). Specialized kidneys prevent excess loss of water through urine, while perspiration is minimized by raising body temperature to a maximum of 46.5o C.
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Distribution & Habitat |
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Reproduction {repro} |
Our small herd of oryx arrived from Chester Zoo in 2002 as part of a European breeding programme. |
Conservation Hunting, agricultural encroachment and climate change are major threats to this species. It is now classified as critically endangered by the IUCN. |
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