Oryx antelope
The oryx antelope is a true survivor, found mainly in the arid and semi-arid regions of Africa.
Appearance
This antelope species belongs to the subfamily of horse antelopes and is particularly characterized by its long horns, which are present in both males and females. These can grow up to 120 centimeters in length, growing almost straight upwards and having a bark-like structure. Another feature of the oryx antelope is its light-colored coat, which has black stripes, especially on the belly, front legs, and face. The belly of the animals is even lighter than the back, so that they are better protected from the heat radiated from the ground. An adult bull of this antelope species can reach a standing height of 180 centimeters and a body weight of 200 kilograms.
Habitat
What is special about the oryx antelope and its habitat? As mentioned above, these animals are survival artists in the semi-deserts of Africa. This allows the animals to go without water for longer periods. In doing so, their temperature can rise from 38 degrees, which is typical for African mammals, to 45 degrees without them suffering a heatstroke. To achieve this, these antelopes have an additional network of blood vessels in the neck that enables simple heat exchange. However, if they are fleeing in high heat, this method sometimes fails and they can die from the high temperature.
Behavior
What is the behavior of these antelope species? The animals live mainly in small groups, which consist predominantly of females and young animals. The males are usually loners and only join the herds during mating season. However, there are bachelor groups of male animals that travel together. The antelopes' diet consists mainly of grass and leaves, but they also eat leaves from bushes or trees when available. A large part of the required fluids is obtained from this food, so that oryx antelopes can go for a long time without a water source.
