Class: MAMMALIA

Order: ARTIODACTYLA

Family: BOVIDAE

Genus: ORYX

Species: LEUCORYX

This species of medium-sized hooved mammal is one of four living species of oryx - largely African antelopes characterised by muscular bodies with triangular heads and long, pointed horns. The scimitar-horned oryx and Arabian oryx are likely the two closest relatives within the genus - found in much the same area, though the Arabian Oryx is the only species to be found outside the African continent as it exists in Asia. It probably at one point enjoyed a wide range across the Middle East - but after reintroduction now only exists in a few areas in the countries of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates. A small population also exists on the tiny nation of Bahrain. Many oryxes in the middle east are also kept under human-management in open preserves. The divide between the two Northern oryxes likely occurred some point in the last million years. As it formerly assumed a wide, continuous range, no distinct sub-species are recognised.

Arabian oryxes have much a monotonous pelage - with much of it being solid white. This is rather similar to that of the Scimitar-horned Oryx - which also has a coat which is largely solid white - but Arabian oryxes lack the reddish-brown collar prominent on the Scimitar-horned species. Like many other desert-living animals, the white fur reflects sunlight, and so less heat is absorbed. At colder desert nights, it also efficiently absorbs heat to keep the animal warm. The 'stockings' on some animals can appear a black colour, but on others it is more light-brown. The 'stockings' do not cover the animal's hoof area, which is white. Like the three other oryx species, it has a muscular frame - as well as a prominent mane and dark, bushy tail. A stripe the extends above the eye from below it merges into a dark area on the animal's head - with another dark area being found on the front of the animal's head in a trangular format - and also on top of the head and around the nose. As few predators have existed in its arid environment, it rarely ever has to run. It does, however, walk considerable distances at dawn and dusk hours when temperatures are less harsh. In th heat of the day, they tend to search for shade and are more idle. This is the smallest oryx - 1 metre at shoulder, and some 2 metres in length. Males weigh about 70 kilogrammes, with females more often around 60 kilogrammes. Characteristic of oryxes, it also has a pair of horns some 75 centimetres in length - though as opposed to those of the Scimitar-horned Oryx, which has curved horns, Arabian oryx have almost straight horns. To prevent sinking into the sand, it has wide hooves.

Arabian oryx are able to survive without a consistent water source [though they will not decline to use a watering hole] - as they have a tendency to eat plants - generally rugged scrubs, in the early hours when they are covered in dew - which thus consitutes their main water source. But when they are available, they will also feed on bulbs, tubers, and melons that are found in arid environments - which can provide even more water. They have been found in such areas as sand dunes and scrub plains - though herds may congregate to inner desert intentionally in rare times of especially high rainfall. The areas where they live are some of Earth's dryest environments - with a regular temperature close to that of 50 degrees celsius - and rainfall perhaps 10 days a year. High winds and sandstorms in such environments are not entirely unheard of. Much heat is lost by sweat - though it can also let its body temperature to rise higher than surrounding air - and so radiating heat to the environment. Cool blood arrives from the nasal passages so that the brain does not overheat.

The breeding of Arabian oryx does not seem to be determined by seasons - as little in terms of season exist in the desert environment where the animals live. Rather; the animals will breed in conditions of convenience. They usually travel in groups of around 10 animals - but some groups of 100 or so have been observed. In such groups, an adult bull is dominant - and he travels with his harem of cows alongside their offspring. Subordinate males will take positions between outlier females and the main herd-body - and both sexes will use their long horns to duel for hierarchy position. Celibate males will leave the herd to join other celibate males - who themselves establish hierarchy within these seclusions. It rarely uses its horns to fight against other species - as its only main predator is that of jackals - which rarely ever go after adults. After mating, the cow is pregnant for about 260 days before a single calf is born. The calf is rather idle for about a month - and weaned by 5 months of age. When the animal becomes 2 years of age, it gains sexual maturity. Maximum longevity for the Arabian Oryx is believed to be 20 years of age.

The Arabian Oryx might have contributed to the idea of the unicorn - some people of ancient Greece had heard of an animal with a horse's body with a single long horn projecting from its forehead - and given that Arabia was largely unknown to the Grecians, such an idea was feasible. In silhouette, the side profile of the oryx is markedly horse-like - and sometimes animals lose horns, which are not to grow in place. And even amongst the native nomads of the Arabian desert there was admiration for the animal - with poems being written about the animal's pleasing features for centuries. Of particular emphasis of such poems are the animal's eyes and body - the poet Thaclabah ibn Saghīr al-Māzinī [ثعلبة بن صعير المازني], one of the oldest known pre-Islamic poets, is known to have written: 'Like the oryx, how many with the white forehead of youth entice the one who stares?'. Oryxes were of good use to traditional nomads - but being alert and keen sighted would be difficult to catch on foot. But when harvested, no part of the animal was to be wasted - meat and leather were particularly valuable, as well as it horns for decorative properties. It is the national animal of Qatar.

These oryx are a few of thousands that live on farms and preserves in the Middle East - the ones here live on a nature reserve in Israel. Nature reserves can provide incredibly naturalistic environments for their occupants to live - but they are managed by people. Picture courtesy of Klaus Rudloff at biolib.cz

The animal remained fairly abundant until the end of the Second World War - when heavy artillery became more commonplace - such as automatic rifles and motor vehicles faster than ever before. These would become popular on the Arabian peninsula also - which led to congregations of wealthy Arabs, alongside oil barons of Europe and America engaging in commonplace slaughter of the animals - which itself lead to an especially rapid decline. By around 1970, no known animals were left in the wild - but in 1962, there were already plans to create an insurance population for the species. The Phoenix Zoo of the USA was the first zoo to start breeding the species, which had received animals from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom to start the World Herd - which in 1962 had 7 individuals. It would not be long after that the Phoenix Zoo found success in breeding the species, and would eventually distribute their oryxes to zoos across the USA. The World Herd, which was spearheaded much by the 'Operation Oryx' expedition, became a large success - by the end of the twentieth century more than 1300 animals were in existence, with some 100 or so living in naturalised surroundings in the Middle East. A collaborative effort with no less than six governments and five zoos - Operation Oryx became a historical success story of conservation. In 2011 after reassessment, the IUCN changed the species' status from Endangered to Vulnerable - the first time that a mammal extinct in the wild had recovered so that they were once again fully naturalised. And in the modern day, some 7000 oryxes exist in captivity, mainly within the Middle East, though also in European and North American nations - and another 1000 exist in the wild.