The addax Addax nasomaculatus
The addax formerly occurred in Libya, Algeria, Senegal, Tunis, and Egypt but today these antelopes are only found in Sahara desert and some arid areas in Niger, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Sudan. The addax is one of the rarest mammals of the world; the total global population is estimated at less than 300 animals surviving in the wild, and about 1,000 of addaxes are kept at the zoos. The species name nasomaculatus originates from the Latin words nasus meaning nose, and macula, spotted, which refers to the facial spots of this antelope. Thin horns of the addax are oriented backwards and have 1.5 to 3 spiral twists; their length reaches 80 cm in the females and 110 cm, in the males. The weight of this antelope ranges between 60 and 125 cm, body length is 150 to 170 cm, and shoulder height, 95 to 115 cm. The addax is perfectly adapted to living in desert environment. Its hooves are broad and flat as an adaptation to travelling over desert quicksand. Addaxes are able to increase the core body temperature and reduce evaporation for body cooling. Addaxes travel in small herds consisting of 10, and sometimes 20 animals. They have to spend most of their time wandering in search of food presented by grass, herbs, and shrubs. They are able to live without water for many weeks and even months, using moisture contained in the plants that they eat. Addaxes are most active in the morning and evening hours since those periods are the coldest in the desert. During daytime they hide in the cavities in the sand that they dig with their hooves.
