ORYX

:''For the helicopter, see Atlas Oryx.''
An 'Oryx' is one of three or four large antelope species of the genus ''Oryx'', typically having long straight almost upright or swept back horns. Two or three of the species are native to Africa, with a fourth native to the Arabian Peninsula. Small introduced populations of several oryx species exist in Texas and New Mexico, USA.

Contents

Species

Ecology

In culture

Classification

External link

Species

The 'Arabian Oryx' (''Oryx leucoryx''), the smallest species, became extinct in the wild in 1972 from the Arabian Peninsula. It was reintroduced in 1982 in Oman but poaching has had negative effects. Further populations have been reintroduced in Bahrain, Israel and Saudi Arabia, with a total population in the wild of about 886 in 2003[1]. About 600 more are in captivity.
The 'Scimitar Oryx', also called 'Scimitar-horned Oryx' (''Oryx dammah'') of North Africa is now possibly extinct in the wild. However, there are unconfirmed reports of surviving populations in central Niger and Chad, and a population currently inhabiting a fenced nature reserve in Tunisia is being expanded for reintroduction to the wild in that country[2].
The 'East African Oryx' inhabits eastern Africa, and the closely-related 'Gemsbok' inhabits all of eastern and southern Africa. Both are considered threatened species. Between 1969 and 1977, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish released 93 Gemsbok into the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico and that population is now estimated at about 1,700 animals[3]. The classification of these two animals varies between experts. One system has the 'Gemsbok' as one species (''Oryx gazella''), and the 'East African Oryx' as another (''Oryx beisa'') with two subspecies of its own, the 'East African Oryx' "proper" (''Oryx beisa beisa'') and the 'Fringe-eared oryx' (''Oryx beisa calliotis''). The other system has one ''Oryx gazella'' species, with three subspecies: ''Oryx gazella gazella'', ''Oryx gazella beisa'', and ''Oryx gazella calliotis''.

Ecology

All oryx species prefer near-desert conditions and can survive without water for long periods. They live in herds of up to 600 animals. Newborn calves are able to run with the herd immediately after birth. Both males and females possess permanent horns. The horns are narrow, and straight except in the scimitar oryx, where they curve backwards like a scimitar. The horns are lethal—the oryx has been known to kill lions with them—and oryxes are thus sometimes called the 'sabre antelope'. The horns also make the animals a prized game trophy, which has led to the near-extinction of the two northern species.

In culture

An oryx, when seen from the side appears to have only a single horn (or the animal may have lost a horn), which has led to speculation that it may be the source of Unicorn myths.
An Arabian Oryx named 'Orry' served as an unofficial mascot of the 2006 Asian Games held at Doha.
In popular culture, a skit on ''Sesame Street'' shows six oryx walking by while a group of kids apparently count them.

Classification

★ 'FAMILY BOVIDAE'

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★ 'Subfamily Hippotraginae'

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★ 'Genus ''Hippotragus'''

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★ 'Genus ''Oryx'''

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★ Scimitar Oryx, ''Oryx dammah''

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★ Gemsbok, ''Oryx gazella''

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★ East African Oryx, ''Oryx beisa'' (or subspecies of ''O. gazella'')

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★ Arabian Oryx, ''Oryx leucoryx''

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★ 'Genus ''Addax'''

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★ Addax, ''Addax nasomaculatus''

External link

★ Oryx:Wildlife summary from the African Wildlife Foundation

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