East African Oryx

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East African Oryx
Conservation status
Conservation dependent (LR/cd)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Subfamily: Hippotraginae Genus: Oryx Species: O. beisa
Binomial name
Oryx beisa Rüppell, 1835

The East African Oryx (Oryx beisa, also known as the Beisa Oryx) found in steppe and semi-desert throughout the Horn of Africa and in parts of Tanzania. Some taxonimists make it a sub-species of the Gemsbok (Oryx gazella).

East African Oryx stand just over a metre at the shoulder and weigh around 175 kilograms. They have a grey coat with a white underside, separated from the grey by a stripe of black, there are also black stripes where the head attaches to the neck, along the nose and from the eye to the mouth and on the forehead. There is a small chestnut coloured mane. The ringed horns are thin and straight. They are found on both sexes and typically reach a metre or more.

East African Oryx live in semi-desert and steppes where they eat grass, leaves, fruit and buds. East African Oryx are able to store water by raising their body temperature (so as to avoid perspiration). They gather in herds of five to forty animals with a cow leading and an alpha male guarding from the rear. Older males are solitary, presumably to avoid burdening their group.

Oryx