Oryx

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For the helicopter, see Atlas Oryx.

iOryxes

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Family:	Bovidae
Subfamily:	Hippotraginae
Genus:	Oryx

Species

Oryx beisa Rüppell, 1835
Oryx dammah Cretzschmar, 1827
Oryx gazella (Linnaeus, 1758)
Oryx leucoryx Pallas, 1766

An Oryx is one of three or four large antelope species of the genus Oryx, typically having long straight almost upright horns. Three of the species are found in Africa with a fourth in Arabia and Southern Israel. Small populations exist in Texas and New Mexico, USA. The New Mexico population was started between 1969 and 1977 when the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish released 93 oryx onto the White Sands Missile range.

Some taxonomists describe Oryx beisa as a subspecies of Oryx gazella. The Arabian oryx, 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 on the species. Subsequent reintroduction programmes have placed the number of Arabian oryx in the wild at around 250. About 600 more are in captivity. The oryx dammah is now extinct from the wild in Africa, however.

These large African antelopes prefer near-desert conditions and can survive without water for long periods. The smallest species, the Arabian oryx, is almost extinct, and another, the scimitar-horned oryx is endangered. Oryxes live in herds of up to 60 animals. Newborn calves are able to run with the herd immediately after birth. Both males and females possess permanent, narrow, straight horns. These horns are lethal, the oryx has been known to kill lions with them. They are also the reason this animal is sometimes called the sabre antelope.

Newborn calves can run with the herd immediately after birth. Both males and females have permanent, narrow, straight horns. These horns are quite dangerous.

The Oryx, when seen from the side, appears to have only one single horn which leads to speculations that it is probably the animal initially mistaken for Unicorn myths.

An Arabian Oryx named 'Orry' is choosen as official mascot of the 2006 Asian Games being held at Doha