Animal Fact Sheet
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 Addax
Addax nasomaculatus
What does it look
like?
Addax are the most desert adapted of antelopes. Similar in shape
to a reindeer, addax have short necks, raised withers, straight
back and rounded rumps.
- Gray-brown "toupees" rest on their foreheads and white
masks of hair cross their noses
- In summer, their coats are white and gradually develop a brownish
tinge during winter
- Broad, flat hooves allow them to walk with ease across the
sand without sinking
- Both sexes have twisted horns that slant back and spiral upward
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| Where
in the world?
Once moving back and forth across the Sahara desert following the
rains, addax are now limited to the most remote pockets of their
original range in North Africa. They live in sandy, stony desert
regions far from water.
What are some behaviors?
Active in the morning and night, addax avoid the extreme temperatures
of the day by lying in whatever shade is available. Addax have a
long history of interaction with the native peoples who shared their
desert homeland. Stone carvings depicting life in ancient Egypt
show that addax were kept in large numbers, semi-tame in stables
as if they were goats, as recently as the 14th century.
What about offspring?
Female Addax reach sexual maturity at 1½ years of age while
males will not sexually mature until approximately 3 years of age.
Mature females give birth to a single calf after an 8 ½ -
9-month gestation period. The reddish-brown young are born primarily
in the winter and spring seasons. At birth the calf is considered
precocial even though they remain concealed in a hidden area for
up to the first six weeks of life to protect them from natural predators.
Dams remain in close proximity to their calf. At birth Addax calves
have open eyes, can stand and walk within an hour and weigh in at
around 10-15 lbs. |
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What
does it eat?
Addax feed upon annual grasses, shrubs and succulents. They get
their water requirements from these plants and do not need to drink
free water. But they will drink water if available.
Is it threatened
or endangered?
Prolonged droughts and continued war in the region where addax live
coupled with reduced numbers have pushed this species to the brink
of extinction. Addax numbers have been so severely reduced that
it is estimated that less than 200 individuals remain in the wild.
In fact, there are more addax in captivity. Zoos in North America
and Europe are working with range state countries to develop reintroduction
programs for this endangered antelope. Reintroductions have occurred
in Tunisia and Morocco into protected reserves. In Niger, one of
the last strongholds for addax, the Termit Biosphere Reserve has
been established for their protection. |
