What is a horned oryx?
Horns aplenty: Oryx are distinctive antelope with long, straight, slender horns. These horns, carried by both males and females, give oryx the nickname "spear antelope." The horns of the scimitar-horned oryx O. dammah are a bit different.
What are scimitar-horned oryx?
Scimitar-horned oryx are an important example of how humans can impact animal populations, both negatively and positively. Egyptians used to bind the horns of oryx together to make them appear like they had one horn. Soon their horns would grow together.
What kind of fur does an oryx have?
Their fur is pale with contrasting dark markings in the face and on the legs, and their long horns are almost straight. The exception is the scimitar oryx, which lacks dark markings on the legs, only has faint dark markings on the head, has an ochre neck, and horns that are clearly decurved.
What is the difference between aurochs and oryx?
Not to be confused with Aurochs. Oryx is a genus consisting of four large antelope species called oryxes. Their fur is pale with contrasting dark markings in the face and on the legs, and their long horns are almost straight.
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Are oryx horns hollow?
Both male and female oryxes have horns, with the females' being more slender. The horns are long, thin, and symmetrical, and curve backward (a distinctive feature of this species); they can reach 1.0 to 1.2 m (3 ft 3 in to 3 ft 11 in) in both sexes. The hollow walls of the horns are so thin that they can easily break.
What is a oryx horn?
Horns aplenty: Oryx are distinctive antelope with long, straight, slender horns. These horns, carried by both males and females, give oryx the nickname "spear antelope." The horns of the scimitar-horned oryx O.
Do oryx horns grow back?
It does not grow back. Horns are permanent; they are not shed, but grow with the animal throughout its lifespan.
Does oryx have horns?
Both male and female oryx have horns that average 34 inches long (. 86 meter). Their brown coloring with distinctive black-and-white markings enables them to hide among desert shrubs.
How much meat do you get off an oryx?
An adult oryx or gemsbok typically weighs around 550 lbs and has a dressed weight of around 315 lbs. From this, you can expect around 180 lbs of boneless meat once the animal has been processed. Typically, you can expect an oryx carcass to have a meat yield equal to around 60% of the dressed weight.
How big do oryx horns get?
Also known as gemsbok, the oryx is visually striking antelope with distinct markings and long, straight horns (30–40 inches) grown by both sexes.
Do animals feel pain in their horns?
Yes. The corneal nerve, running from behind the eye to the base of the horn, supplies sensation to the horn. Studies have shown that dehorning stimulates both an acute pain response and a delayed inflammatory reaction.
Do horns bleed?
Broken horns can bleed profusely and veterinary attention can be required to stop the blood flow. Damaged horns can have their growth patterns changed. This can sometimes result in the horn growing towards the skull instead of away from it.
Do horns have blood?
Some animals with true horns use them for cooling. The blood vessels in the bony core allow the horns to function as a radiator. After the death of a horned animal, the keratin may be consumed by the larvae of the horn moth.
Does oryx taste good?
Oryx meat has less game flavor than most game meat. Here in New Mexico, it's considered the best tasting game meat over elk, deer, and wild turkey. It has a very mild flavor with hints of gaminess.
Does oryx ever speak?
Oryx is the second major Hive character to speak English in-game.
How many oryx are left in the world?
The IUCN estimates there are more than 1000 Arabian oryx in the wild, with 6000–7000 held in captivity worldwide in zoos, preserves, and private collections.
What does Oryx meat taste like?
Like our pronghorn, oryx meat is lighter pink and more finely textured than venison, and it offers a mild flavor akin to lamb but minus the aftertaste.
What is Oryx called in English?
antelopeThe term "oryx" comes from the Greek word ὄρυξ, óryx, for a type of antelope.
What Oryx means?
Definition of oryx : any of a small genus (Oryx) of large heavily built African and Arabian antelopes that have a light-colored coat with dark conspicuous markings especially on the face — compare gemsbok.
Is an oryx a deer or a goat?
Oryx are antelopes, so they are closely related to other even-toed ungulates (or hoofed mammals). They also have a similar anatomy to other ruminants, which are herbivorous hoofed mammals that have specialized stomachs to process their plant-based diets. You can think of a cow as the classic example!
ABOUT
Scimitar-horned oryx are all but extinct in their native habitat, yet they are one of the most common antelopes in zoos.
HABITAT AND DIET
Oryx can sense rainfall far away and travel up to 50 miles (80 kilometers) to feed on freshly sprouted vegetation.
CONSERVATION
Scimitar-horned oryx O. dammah once ranged across North Africa. Now extinct in their native habitat, they currently live only in zoos. The good news is that there are several successful breeding herds in zoos. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has had over 500 scimitar-horned oryx births, a world record!
Description of the Oryx
Oryxes are large antelopes with long, vertical horns. All four species are relatively light colored, from the white/cream Arabian species to the tan/brown Gemsbok. Their horns are quite long, and grow vertically upwards, and slightly backward in some species. In some species, the horns grow nearly five feet long!
Interesting Facts About the Oryx
Each species of these animals is slightly different from the next. Learn more about each one below.
Habitat of the Oryx
These antelopes live primarily in arid regions with low rainfall. Arabians live in deserts, plains, savanna, and desert edges. Scimitars and East Africans live in similar habitats, like steppe, desert, semi-desert, and sand dunes.
Distribution of the Oryx
Each species of Oryx has a slightly different distribution. Most live in small, restricted regions rather than across wide expanses. Arabians live in several isolated regions of the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel.
Diet of the Oryx
Like all antelopes, these are herbivores. They feed on a variety of different plants, including grasses, leaves, stems, buds, flowers, fruits, and more. Because they live in arid regions with hot midday temperatures, most of these antelope feed during the early morning and late afternoon.
Oryx and Human Interaction
Humans have devastated Oryx populations, both in the past and during the present day. Of the four different species, three face direct threat of extinction. Though the Arabian species is a success story, human activity still threatens their continued survival.
Oryx Care
In zoos, game farms, and preserves, Oryxes live in large enclosures with protective fencing. Their habitats contain a variety of shrubbery, grasses, and small vegetation for them to browse on. Though their wild counterparts generally do not have access to water at all times, animals in zoos have fresh water to drink whenever they like.
Fun Facts
Scimitar-horned oryx once inhabited the arid borders of the Sahara desert. Because of over-hunting, the last wild oryx observed was seen in the late 1980s. Fortunately, this species has been bred in zoos and today small groups have been introduced into northern central Africa.
Ecology and Conservation
While information on oryx is limited, they 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.
Bibliography
Estes, Richard D. The Behavior Guide to African Mammals: Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, Primates. Berkeley: University of California Press. 1991.
Taxonomy and naming
The scimitar oryx is a member of the genus Oryx and the family Bovidae. The German naturalist Lorenz Oken first described it in 1816, naming it Oryx algazel. The nomenclature has undergone various changes since then, with the introduction of names like Oryx tao, O. leucoryx, O. damma, O. dammah, O. bezoarticus and O. ensicornis.
Genetics and evolution
The scimitar oryx has 58 chromosomes. It has one pair of large submetacentric autosomes and 27 acrocentric autosomal pairs. The X and Y chromosomes are the largest and smallest acrocentrics. The first molecular study of this species (published in 2007) observed genetic diversity among European, North American and some other captive groups.
Physical description
The scimitar oryx is a straight-horned antelope that stands just over 1 m (3.3 ft) at the shoulder. The males weigh 140–210 kg (310–460 lb) and the females 91–140 kg (201–309 lb). The body measures 140–240 cm (55–94 in) from the head to the base of the tail. The tail is 45–60 cm (18–24 in) long and ends with a tuft.
Diseases and parasites
The scimitar oryx can be infected with cryptosporidiosis, a parasitic disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Cryptosporidium in the phylum Apicomplexa. A study in 2004 revealed that C. parvum or similar organisms infected 155 mammal species, including the scimitar oryx.
Ecology and behavior
The scimitar oryx was a very sociable animal and traveled in herds of between two and 40 individuals, generally, led by a dominant bull. This species once gathered in groups of several thousand for migration. During the wet season, they migrated north into the Sahara. Scimitar oryx are diurnal.
Habitat and distribution
The scimitar oryx once inhabited grassy steppes, semideserts and deserts in a narrow strip of central north Africa ( Niger and Chad ). It was widespread on the fringes of the Sahara, mainly in subdesert steppe, the grassy zone between the real desert and the Sahel, an area characterized by an annual rainfall of 75–150 mm (3.0–5.9 in).
Status and conservation
Following the Neolithic Subpluvial, around 7500 to 3500 BCE, the "green Sahara" became dry and the scimitar oryx's population began to decline due to a loss of suitable habitat. This was further exacerbated by humans who hunted the scimitar oryx for both its meat and horns. The northern population was already almost lost before the 20th century.
Description of The Oryx
Interesting Facts About The Oryx
- Each species of these animals is slightly different from the next. Learn more about each one below. 1. Gemsbok– The Gemsbok is the only species of Oryx that is not directly in danger of extinction. In fact, their populations are quite strong in parts of their range, and their overall population is stable. Interestingly, humans have even introduced a population of Gemsbok to Ne…
Habitat of The Oryx
- These antelopes live primarily in arid regions with low rainfall. Arabians live in deserts, plains, savanna, and desert edges. Scimitars and East Africans live in similar habitats, like steppe, desert, semi-desert, and sand dunes. Gemsboks live in slightly less arid regions than their cousins. They inhabit mountainous areas, grasslands, dunes, and savannas. However, Gemsbo…
Distribution of The Oryx
- Each species of Oryx has a slightly different distribution. Most live in small, restricted regions rather than across wide expanses. Arabians live in several isolated regions of the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel. The Scimitar species does not have a wild distribution, and one of the largest breeding populations lives in Texas big game …
Diet of The Oryx
- Like all antelopes, these are herbivores. They feed on a variety of different plants, including grasses, leaves, stems, buds, flowers, fruits, and more. Because they live in arid regions with hot midday temperatures, most of these antelope feed during the early morning and late afternoon. Their diet changes based on the season and the availability of water. When water is scarce, the…
Oryx and Human Interaction
- Humans have devastated Oryx populations, both in the past and during the present day. Of the four different species, three face direct threat of extinction. Though the Arabian species is a success story, human activity still threatens their continued survival. From habitat destruction, to hunting, to competition with livestock, humans cause continual population decline to these antel…
Oryx Care
- In zoos, game farms, and preserves, Oryxes live in large enclosures with protective fencing. Their habitats contain a variety of shrubbery, grasses, and small vegetation for them to browse on. Though their wild counterparts generally do not have access to water at all times, animals in zoos have fresh water to drink whenever they like. Zoos also supplement their diet with a variety of ha…
Behavior of The Oryx
- Like many other antelopes, Oryxes are social animals. Their herds range in size from a single pair to several dozen animals. Outside of the breeding season, the males live in bachelor herds or alone. When the breeding season arrives, males begin fighting one another for mating rights. Males normally defend a small herd of females, and defend them from other males. Only the str…
Reproduction of The Oryx
- Females mate with a single male, while males breed with all the females in the herd. The gestation period of all species is around eight months. Most species give birth to a single calf, though twins do occur in some species. The mother begins weaning the calf off her milk when it is around three or four months old. The calf becomes independent of its mother soon after weanin…
Scientific Classification
- Common Name
1. scimitar-horned oryx - Kingdom
1. Animalia
Fast Facts
- Description
1. Medium-sized white antelope with brown neck and collar markings (may seasonal color change to a light brown); long horns curve backward - Size
1. Height at shoulder: 0.9 to 1.36 m (3 to 4.5 ft.)
Fun Facts
- Scimitar-horned oryx once inhabited the arid borders of the Sahara desert. Because of over-hunting, the last wild oryx observed was seen in the late 1980s. Fortunately, this species has been bred i...
- 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.
- Scimitar-horned oryx once inhabited the arid borders of the Sahara desert. Because of over-hunting, the last wild oryx observed was seen in the late 1980s. Fortunately, this species has been bred i...
- 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.
- Oryx can go without water for several days, which is a great adaptation for a desert dweller.
- These animals usually live in herds of 20 to 40 individuals, but have been sighted at herds of 1000.
Ecology and Conservation
- While information on oryx is limited, they 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. Oryx numbers have dwindled because farmers shoot them. In addition, they suffer from habitat destru…
Bibliography
- Estes, Richard D. The Behavior Guide to African Mammals: Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, Primates. Berkeley: University of California Press. 1991. Estes, Richard D.The Safari Companion.Vermont: Chelsea Green Publishing Company. 1993. Nowak, Ronald M. Walker's Mammals of the World Fifth Ed. Vol. II. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. 1991. Parker…