Scimitar-horned Oryx

Oryx dammah

Description Both male and female
scimitar-horned oryx have curved horns that
grow to be several feet long.  Scimitar-horned
oryx 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.

Size These desert antelope stand up to 1.4
meters (4.6 feet) tall at the shoulder, and their
head and body length is between 1.5 and 2.3
meters (4.9 to 7.5 feet), plus a long tail. They
weigh between 100 and 210 kilograms (220 to
460 pounds).

Habitat These oryx once lived in arid plains and
deserts, and, to a lesser extent, rocky hillsides
and thick brush.

Behavior Historically, these oryx lived in herds
of 20 to 40 individuals, led by a single male.
During migrations and times of plentiful water,
herds of 1,000 or more were seen. They are able
to raise their body temperature by several
degrees, up to 116 degrees Fahrenheit, to
conserve water by avoiding sweating.

Breeding About eight to eight and a half months
after mating, females give birth to a single calf
weighing about ten kilograms.
Scimitar Oryx
Food  Grasses, herbs, juicy
roots, and buds.
210 kg
150 kg
Length of horns can reach
a metre to a metre and a
quarter on both sexes