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| Description | The colour varies from light brown to ash grey with lighter patches on the buttocks. The tail is black with long hair. The animal has a dark brown stripe low down on the flanks which joins up with the dark brown on the upper legs. The rest of the legs and the belly are white. On the crop is a patch of brown which joins up with the brown colouring of the top of the back. The face is white with a black patch on the snout. A smaller black patch high on the forehead, and two black stripes beginning around the eyes, extend down the sides of the face and join the black stripe on the throat. Both sexes have the characteristic long, straight horns. | |
| Sexual dimorphism | Females have a lighter build than males and their horns are longer and thinner. | |
| Habitat | Open grass plains in semi-desert regions and dry savannah. | |
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Habits |
Oryx live in herds of 12 or more animals. Adult males are territorial and are solitary, or form small herds of 2 to 3. Other herds consist of females, juveniles and calves. After birth, calves are hidden for a few months before they are brought into the herd by their mothers. Oryx often kneel while grazing and can survive for long periods with-out water. | |
| Voice | A cattle-like bellow. | |
| Breeding | A single calf is born throughout the year after a gestation period of ± 9 months. | |
| Food | Grass. Also succulent tubers, tsamma melons and other fruit. | |
| Mass |
♂
± 240 kg ♀ ± 210 kg |
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| Life expectancy | ± 19 years | |
| Length of horns |
Average ± 85 cm Record 125,10 cm |
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| Enemies | Spotted Hyena, Lion, Cape Hunting Dog | |
| Also known as |
Gemsbok (Afrikaans) Oryx gazella |
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