Scimitar-horned oryx

Description

This is a mid-sized antelope, with cylindrical and narrow horns that curve backward in the shape of a scimitar, reaching lengths of 120 cm. Both sexes are whitish to light brown, with the breast, rump and flanks a reddish brown, and with greyish brown marks on the face. The calves are light brown with a white belly and the tip of the tail is black. 

Ethology

Before becoming extinct in the wild, they lived in small groups of 10-30 individuals, although during migration they formed herds of up to hundreds of animals. The female gives birth to a single calf after eight and a half months’ gestation. They are adapted to dry areas as they have widened hooves that do not sink in sand, pale coats that reflect sunlight and the skin and the end of their tongues are black, protecting them from sunburn. 

Interesting facts

The reasons for the extinction of the population in the wild were overhunting, loss of habitat and competition with domestic livestock.