ADDAX ANTELOPE
The Addax (Addax nasomaculatus), also known as the screwhorn antelope, is a critically endangered desert antelope that lives in several isolated regions in the Sahara desert. This species of the antelope family is closely related to the oryx, but differs from other antelopes by having large square teeth like a cattle and lacking the typical facial glands. Although extremely rare in its native habitat, it is quite common in captivity and is regularly bred on ranches where they are hunted as trophies. There are fewer than 500 addax left in wild, with fewer than 860 in captivity.
The Addax (Addax nasomaculatus) is a critically endangered desert antelope that lives in several isolated regions in the Sahara desert. Although extremely rare in its native habitat, it is quite common in captivity and is regularly bred on ranches where they are hunted as trophies. The Addax stands about 1 metre tall at the shoulder and weighs 60 to 120 kilograms. Their coat is white but their chest, neck and head are mainly brown with a white patch over the bridge of the nose and another around the mouth. They have a scraggly beard and prominent red nostrils.During summer their coat is white and during winter it is brown. Horns, found on both males and females, have two twists and can reach 80 centimetres in females and 120 centimetres in males. The hooves are broad with flat soles and strong dewclaws to help them walk on soft sand. Addax live in desert terrain where they eat grass, and leaves of what bushes there are. Addax don't drink, but get all the moisture they need from their food. Addax are nocturnal: they rest during the day in depressions they dig for themselves. Addax herds contain both males and females and have from two to twenty animals, though they had more in previous times. They wander widely in search of food. Addax have a strong social structure, probably based on age, and herds are led by the oldest male. The Israeli Yotvata Hai-Bar Nature Reserve is breeding Addax in the Arava desert for possible release in the Negev desert, although this is outside their natural range. One of the biggest captive breeding herds for Addax exists at the Hanover Zoo, Germany. They are raised there and some groups have been sent to fenced areas in Morocco and Tunisia, from where it is hoped they will be reintroduced into the wild.
Appearance
The Addax stands about 1 meter tall at the shoulder and its weight varies from 60 to 120 kilograms. The coloring of their coat varies with the season. In the winter it is greyish brown with white hind quarters and legs. In the summer, the coat turns almost completely white or sandy blonde. Their head is marked with brown or black patches that form an X over their nose. They have a scraggly beard and prominent red nostrils. Long black hairs stick out between their curved and spiraling horns ending in a short main on the neck. Horns, found on both males and females, have two to three twists and can reach 80 centimetres in females and 120 centimetres in males. Their tail is short and slender, ending in a puff of hair. The hooves are broad with flat soles and strong dewclaws to help them walk on soft sand.
Distribution
In ancient times, Addax spread from Northern Africa through Arabia and Palestine. Pictures from Egyptian tombs show them being kept as domesticated animals in around 2500 BC. More recently, Addax were found from Algeria to Sudan but due to several reasons, they have become much more restricted and rare. The population became critically endangered from both destruction of their habitat for commercial projects and hunting for horns or use as leather. Since the addax are slow by comparison with other antelopes, and are known to ride themselves to death, they have been an easy target for mounted hunters.
Addax live in desert terrain where they eat the wild watermelons that grow from the dew on the ground in the desert. the wild watermelons are very important to the addax's. They are amply suited to live in the deep desert under extreme conditions. Addax can survive without free water almost indefinitely, because they get moisture from their food and dew that condenses on plants. Addax are nocturnal: they rest during the day in depressions they dig for themselves. Addax are able to live far apart, because their over developed sensory powers allow them to locate each other at great distances.
Behaviour
Addax herds contain both males and females and have from two to twenty animals, though they had more in previous times. They will generally stay in one place and only wander widely in search of food. Addax have a strong social structure, probably based on age, and herds are led by the oldest male. Herds are more likely to be found along the northern edge of the tropical rain system during the summer and move north as winter falls. Addax are able to track rainfall and will head for these areas where vegetation is more plentiful.
Their staple diet is the Aristida grasses; perennials which turn green and sprout at the slightest bit of humidity or rain. The addax eat only certain parts of the plant and tend to crop the Aristida grasses neatly to the same height. By contrast, when feeding on Parnicum grass, the drier outer leaves are left alone while they eat the tender inner shoots and seeds. These seeds are important part of the addax's diet, being their main source of protein.
Conservation
The Israeli Yotvata Hai-Bar Nature Reserve is breeding Addax in the Arava desert for possible release in the Negev desert, although this is outside their natural range. One of the biggest captive breeding herds for Addax exists at the Hanover Zoo, Germany. They are raised there and some groups have been sent to fenced areas in Morocco and Tunisia, from where it is hoped they will be reintroduced into the wild.
Threats and Reasons for Decline:
The addax declined mainly because of motorized hunting with modern weapons by indigenous people who sought meat and leather. The expansion of pastoral agriculture, prolonged drought, harassment by desert travelers, mining exploration, and in some areas tourists, have also been factors.
The addax continues to be threatened by uncontrolled illegal hunting and harassment. All antelope species in the Sahelo-Sahara zone are relentlessly hunted. Long-term drought and loss of pasture are additional threats.
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION
COMMON NAME : addax antelope
KINGDOM : Animalia
PHYLUM : Chordata
CLASS : Mammalia
ORDER : Artiodactyla
FAMILY : Bovidae
GENUS SPECIES : Addax (wild animal with crooked horns) nasomaculatus (nasus - the nose, macula - a spot or mark)
FAST FACTS
DESCRIPTION : Both sexes have horns, mat of brown hair on forehead, rest of body grayish-white
SIZE : Head and body length = 150-170 cm (59.1-66.9 in)
MALE Height at shoulders = 105-114 cm (3.5-3.8 ft)
FEMALE Height at shoulders = 93-108 cm (3.1-3.6 ft)
WEIGHT : MALE 99-123.75 kg (220-275 lbs)
FEMALE 60-125 kg (132-275 lbs)
DIET : Desert succulents, grasses and herbs, leaves of small bushes
GESTATION : 257-264 days; one offspring per birth weighing 4.7-6.75 kg (10.5-15 lbs)
SEXUAL MATURITY : MALE At 3 years, FEMALE At 1.5 years
LIFE SPAN : Up to 19 years
RANGE : Northern Africa (Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger)
HABITAT : Sand and stony desert, semi-desert, and barren steppes
POPULATION : GLOBAL Approximately 500 left in the wild
FUN FACTS
1. Addax possess broad, flat hooves with flat soles that help prevent them from sinking into the desert sand.
2. These antelope are one of the few species where male and females have horns of the same size.
3. These desert antelopes' coat color changes from dark grayish-brown in winter to white in the summer - an efficient method of maintaining body temperatures.
4. Addax will dig depressions in the sand in which to rest. These are often located in the shade of boulders for protection from the wind and sun.
5. Often considered the most-well adapted antelope to a desert environment, addax rarely need to drink since they are able to get most of the water they need from the plants they eat.
6. Addax herds would typically consist of 5-20 individuals, led by one dominant male. Female herd members establish their own dominance hierarchy, with the oldest individuals achieving the highest rank. It should be noted that this group structure is not as standard anymore due to their near extinction in the wild. Most addax now travel in small clusters of only a few individuals.
7. Addax are one of the most endangered mammals in the world. Current estimates show there to be less than 500 individuals left in the wild.
ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
Addax are nearly extinct in the wild, having been eliminated from much of their original range. These antelope have been hunted for their valuable meat and skin. They have also been destroyed by farmers and cattlemen, so as not to compete with their cattle for grazing land. Much of the addax population was decimated during the World Wars. Probably the only reason they are still alive in the wild at all is the fact that they can live in uninhabitable places with extreme heat, extensive sand dunes, and other harsh conditions where it is extremely difficult for humans to reach. Since they are so heavily built they are not capable of great speeds and are easily overtaken by horses, dogs, and, of course, vehicles. Antelope are important to habitats as grazers and browsers. They are also important as prey for carnivores. Addax reintroductions to a park in Tunisia have been successful as well as reintroductions to Niger.
In a cooperative effort with other AZA (American Association of Zoos and Aquariums) institutions, Busch Gardens closely manages addax populations through a program called the Species Survival Plan (SSP), which works to improve the genetic diversity of managed animal populations. Busch Gardens currently has 30 SSP animals.
ADDAX ANTELOPE VIDEO
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION
COMMON NAME : addax antelope
KINGDOM : Animalia
PHYLUM : Chordata
CLASS : Mammalia
ORDER : Artiodactyla
FAMILY : Bovidae
GENUS SPECIES : Addax (wild animal with crooked horns) nasomaculatus (nasus - the nose, macula - a spot or mark)
FAST FACTS
DESCRIPTION : Both sexes have horns, mat of brown hair on forehead, rest of body grayish-white
SIZE : Head and body length = 150-170 cm (59.1-66.9 in)
MALE Height at shoulders = 105-114 cm (3.5-3.8 ft)
FEMALE Height at shoulders = 93-108 cm (3.1-3.6 ft)
WEIGHT : MALE 99-123.75 kg (220-275 lbs)
FEMALE 60-125 kg (132-275 lbs)
DIET : Desert succulents, grasses and herbs, leaves of small bushes
GESTATION : 257-264 days; one offspring per birth weighing 4.7-6.75 kg (10.5-15 lbs)
SEXUAL MATURITY : MALE At 3 years, FEMALE At 1.5 years
LIFE SPAN : Up to 19 years
RANGE : Northern Africa (Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger)
HABITAT : Sand and stony desert, semi-desert, and barren steppes
POPULATION : GLOBAL Approximately 500 left in the wild
FUN FACTS
1. Addax possess broad, flat hooves with flat soles that help prevent them from sinking into the desert sand.
2. These antelope are one of the few species where male and females have horns of the same size.
3. These desert antelopes' coat color changes from dark grayish-brown in winter to white in the summer - an efficient method of maintaining body temperatures.
4. Addax will dig depressions in the sand in which to rest. These are often located in the shade of boulders for protection from the wind and sun.
5. Often considered the most-well adapted antelope to a desert environment, addax rarely need to drink since they are able to get most of the water they need from the plants they eat.
6. Addax herds would typically consist of 5-20 individuals, led by one dominant male. Female herd members establish their own dominance hierarchy, with the oldest individuals achieving the highest rank. It should be noted that this group structure is not as standard anymore due to their near extinction in the wild. Most addax now travel in small clusters of only a few individuals.
7. Addax are one of the most endangered mammals in the world. Current estimates show there to be less than 500 individuals left in the wild.
ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
Addax are nearly extinct in the wild, having been eliminated from much of their original range. These antelope have been hunted for their valuable meat and skin. They have also been destroyed by farmers and cattlemen, so as not to compete with their cattle for grazing land. Much of the addax population was decimated during the World Wars. Probably the only reason they are still alive in the wild at all is the fact that they can live in uninhabitable places with extreme heat, extensive sand dunes, and other harsh conditions where it is extremely difficult for humans to reach. Since they are so heavily built they are not capable of great speeds and are easily overtaken by horses, dogs, and, of course, vehicles. Antelope are important to habitats as grazers and browsers. They are also important as prey for carnivores. Addax reintroductions to a park in Tunisia have been successful as well as reintroductions to Niger.
In a cooperative effort with other AZA (American Association of Zoos and Aquariums) institutions, Busch Gardens closely manages addax populations through a program called the Species Survival Plan (SSP), which works to improve the genetic diversity of managed animal populations. Busch Gardens currently has 30 SSP animals.
ADDAX ANTELOPE VIDEO
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