Scimitar Horned Oryx Flashcards
What is the conservation status of the scimitar horned oryx?
Extinct in the wild.
What is the former range of the scimitar horned oryx?
North Africa.
When was the scimitar horned oryx discovered?
1816
How tall is the scimitar horned oryx?
3 feet
How much does the scimitar horned oryx weigh?
200 - 460 pounds
What color coat do young scimitar horned oryxes have?
Yellow.
How large is a herd of scimitar horned oryxes?
70 oryxes.
What type of habitat were scimitar horned oryxes adapted to live in?
Deserts.
What do scimitar horned oryxes eat?
Plants.
When are scimitar horned oryxes most active?
Morning and evening.
What is the gestation period of he scimitar horned oryx?
Nine months
How many babies does the scimitar horned oryx have?
One
What are the two main threats to the scimitar horned oryx?
Poaching and climate change.
What did ancient Egyptians use the scimitar horned oryx for?
Food and sacrifices.
True or false? Scimitar oryxes were bred by peasants in Rome.
False. They were bred by the wealthy.
When did scimitar horned oryxes begin being hunted for their hides?
The middle ages.
What is postpartum estrus?
It is when a certain species is able to give birth and then get pregnant immediately or soon after.
How is the scimitar horned oryx connected to the unicorn?
Some believe the myth may have come from someone seeing one with a broken horn.
True or false? The first comprehensive study of the genetics of the scimitar horned oryx observed genetic diversity among captive groups in different areas.
True.
How long can the scimitar horned oryx get?
7 feet.
Why is the scimitar horned oryx white?
It reflects the rays of the sun.
Why do scimitar horned oryxes have black marks on their eyes?
To reduce glare.
How are female scimitar horned oryxes different from males?
They are smaller and have shorter horns.
True or false? The horns of the scimitar horned oryx break extremely easily?].
True.
Why are the hooves of the scimitar horned oryx so wide?
It allows them to walk on the sand easily.
How long can a scimitar horned oryx live?
20 years
What disease carrying parasite does the scimitar horned oryx carry in its defecations?
Cryptosporidium.
What is the name of the disease that cryptosporidiums create?
Cryptosporidiosis.
Where was the prime spot to find a scimitar horned oryx in the wet season?
The Sahara.
Male scimitar horned oryxes fight often. Are these battles violent?
No.
What is the ratio of males to females in a scimitar horned oryx herd?
50:50
Though adult scimitar horned oryxes are not attacked often, what preys on them?
Lions, hyenas, jackals, leopards, and cheetahs.
True or false? Male scimitar horned oryxes will not play with females and play less than females.
False. They play more and will mingle.
Why don’t scimitar horned oryxes require a lot of water?
Their metabolism functions at a higher temperature than ours, which means they need less water to conduct heat away from the body. They are also specially adapted to lose very little water when urinating.
What is the maximum body temperature of a scimitar horned oryx?
115 degrees F.
How do scimitar horned oryxes cool their blood before it gets to the brain?
They have a special blood vessel network that passes by he nasal cavity and allows incoming air to cool the blood by 5 degrees F.
Why is it important that scimitar horned oryxes cool their blood before it reaches the brain?
It is one of the most heat sensitive organs.
How long can a scimitar horned oryx go without water?
10 months
What is a hygroscopic plant?
A plant that retains a lot of water.
When are scimitar horned oryxes sexually mature?
2 years
What two major wars caused massive drops in the population of the scimitar horned oryx?
The Chad Civil War and WWII.
How many scimitar horned oryx are there in captivity?
5,000
What was the hide of the scimitar horned oryx used to make?
Rope and saddles.
