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850 Featured Specimen
Addax

Details

Addax

Addax nasomaculatus

Size
1.2–1.7 m · 60–125 kg
Diet
Herbivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Sociality
Herd
Lifespan

Addax is a pale Saharan antelope with long spiral horns and strong desert adaptations. Overhunting and disturbance left very few wild animals, making reintroduction crucial.

Range

Habitat range map
Native range Occasional / Transient
AfrotropicalAfrotropicalAfrotropicalAfrotropical

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Details

Habitat

It uses dunes, stony desert, and dry grassland around the Sahara, moving after rainfall and new growth. Main habitat types in this guide are desert, grassland.

Appearance

Typical length 120-170 cm, weight 60 kg-125 kg. Pale fur, a dark forehead mark, long twisted horns, and spreading hooves are distinctive.

Behavior

It is nocturnal and a herd-forming species. Small herds move slowly while avoiding the hottest hours.

Feeding

It is herbivorous. Drought-tolerant grasses, shrubs, and leaves provide both food and moisture.

Reproduction

Females bear single calves that follow the mother near the herd.

Notes

Wild populations are extremely limited and require strict protection. Overhunting and disturbance left very few wild animals, making reintroduction crucial.