The scimitar-horned oryx Oryx dammah
The scimitar-horned oryx resembles the gemsbok in appearance and size but has paler colour of the coat that is not marked with stripes on the body and legs. But most distinctive feature of the scimitar-horned oryx is the shape of its magnificent horns that curve backwards and average about one meter. Due to dangerous horns, the fights between male oryx are usually well-choreographed and rarely end in severe injuries. In contrast to other antelopes, oryx often use their horns for defending themselves from predators. Being well adapted to the desert environment, oryx are able to live long periods without water, getting moisture from the plants that form their diet. Scimitar-horned oryx travel long distances in search of new, lush grass. These antelopes are active in early morning, late afternoon and even during the night, hiding from the sun in the daytime. Many ancient wallpapers and sculptures depicting scimitar-horned oryx suggest that these animals were domesticated in ancient Egypt. Probably, they were used as offerings in religious ceremonies. Ancient Egyptians kept scimitar-horned antelopes in paddocks and, which is especially interesting, invented their own method of protection against this antelope’s sharp horns; using special clips they changed the shape of the horns of young animals making them hook-like. Formerly scimitar-horned oryx were widespread across North Sahara, but now this species is considered extinct in the wild over all its range.
