Addax 
Addax
Addax
I. Berg
Scientific Name:
Addax nasomaculatus
Group:
Mammals
Status/Date Listed as Endangered:
CR-IUCN: 2008
EN-US FWS: September 2, 2005
Area(s) Where Listed As Endangered:
North Africa
 
Advertisement
 

The addax is a large antelope with long and thin spiral horns with two and sometimes three twists. Its coat is grayish brown in the winter and changes to nearly white in the summer. There is a patch of black hair on its forehead and it has a black tuft on its tail. The average length of the addax is around 5 feet and it has a shoulder height of around 3 feet. The addax is a desert creature and hardly ever needs water except from the drops of water it gets from eating plants.

The addax prefers to travel through the desert at night in search of sparse vegetation in the desert that manages to grow during rainfall. They are able to thrive in the desert with no water source. They are only found in northeastern Niger, northern Chad, and along the Mauritanian/Mali border. Little is known about its reproductive biology in the wild. It is believed that the female gives birth to one calf after a gestation period of 8 to 9 months.

There are only a few hundred left in the wild. Excessive hunting for its flesh and hide seems to be the main cause of decline for the addax. And although it is legally protected, hunting is still a threat. There are currently more than 1000 addax held in captivity in the US, Europe and the Middle East. There are reportedly 600 addax managed in captive breeding programs.




Wikipedia Article

This article is only an excerpt. If it appears incomplete or if you wish to see article references, visit the rest of its contents here.
Wikipedia Article
Copyright Notice: This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Addax".

Featured Article

The Seven Sea Turtle Species of the World
Sea turtles are graceful saltwater reptiles, well adapted to life at sea. Unlike turtles on land, sea turtles cannot retract their legs and head. But with streamlined bodies and flipper-like limbs, they are graceful swimmers able to navigate across the oceans of the world.

Here, we look at the seven species that can be found today, all of which are said to have been around since the time of the dinosaurs.

Read More...


Advertisement


Endangered Species of Our Planet

Donate, Adopt, Get Involved

EEC Conservation Directory
Donate

Mailing List

Would you like to receive a notice and link when the new Creature Feature is posted?

Enter your e-mail address below:

 

Fun & Games

Are you inspired by endangered animals? Check out our games and coloring pages! More to come soon.
color endangered creatures
play hangman