Scimitar Horned Oryx

Question 1

What is the conservation status of the scimitar horned oryx?

Answer 1

Extinct in the wild.

Question 2

What is the former range of the scimitar horned oryx?

Answer 2

North Africa.

Question 3

When was the scimitar horned oryx discovered?

Answer 3

1816

Question 4

How tall is the scimitar horned oryx?

Answer 4

3 feet

Question 5

How much does the scimitar horned oryx weigh?

Answer 5

200 - 460 pounds

Question 6

What color coat do young scimitar horned oryxes have?

Answer 6

Yellow.

Question 7

How large is a herd of scimitar horned oryxes?

Answer 7

70 oryxes.

Question 8

What type of habitat were scimitar horned oryxes adapted to live in?

Answer 8

Deserts.

Question 9

What do scimitar horned oryxes eat?

Answer 9

Plants.

Question 10

When are scimitar horned oryxes most active?

Answer 10

Morning and evening.

Question 11

What is the gestation period of he scimitar horned oryx?

Answer 11

Nine months

Question 12

How many babies does the scimitar horned oryx have?

Answer 12

One

Question 13

What are the two main threats to the scimitar horned oryx?

Answer 13

Poaching and climate change.

Question 14

What did ancient Egyptians use the scimitar horned oryx for?

Answer 14

Food and sacrifices.

Question 15

True or false? Scimitar oryxes were bred by peasants in Rome.

Answer 15

False. They were bred by the wealthy.

Question 16

When did scimitar horned oryxes begin being hunted for their hides?

Answer 16

The middle ages.

Question 17

What is postpartum estrus?

Answer 17

It is when a certain species is able to give birth and then get pregnant immediately or soon after.

Question 18

How is the scimitar horned oryx connected to the unicorn?

Answer 18

Some believe the myth may have come from someone seeing one with a broken horn.

Question 19

True or false? The first comprehensive study of the genetics of the scimitar horned oryx observed genetic diversity among captive groups in different areas.

Answer 19

True.

Question 20

How long can the scimitar horned oryx get?

Answer 20

7 feet.

Question 21

Why is the scimitar horned oryx white?

Answer 21

It reflects the rays of the sun.

Question 22

Why do scimitar horned oryxes have black marks on their eyes?

Answer 22

To reduce glare.

Question 23

How are female scimitar horned oryxes different from males?

Answer 23

They are smaller and have shorter horns.

Question 24

True or false? The horns of the scimitar horned oryx break extremely easily?].

Answer 24

True.

Question 25

Why are the hooves of the scimitar horned oryx so wide?

Answer 25

It allows them to walk on the sand easily.

Question 26

How long can a scimitar horned oryx live?

Answer 26

20 years

Question 27

What disease carrying parasite does the scimitar horned oryx carry in its defecations?

Answer 27

Cryptosporidium.

Question 28

What is the name of the disease that cryptosporidiums create?

Answer 28

Cryptosporidiosis.

Question 29

Where was the prime spot to find a scimitar horned oryx in the wet season?

Answer 29

The Sahara.

Question 30

Male scimitar horned oryxes fight often. Are these battles violent?

Answer 30

No.

Question 31

What is the ratio of males to females in a scimitar horned oryx herd?

Answer 31

50:50

Question 32

Though adult scimitar horned oryxes are not attacked often, what preys on them?

Answer 32

Lions, hyenas, jackals, leopards, and cheetahs.

Question 33

True or false? Male scimitar horned oryxes will not play with females and play less than females.

Answer 33

False. They play more and will mingle.

Question 34

Why don't scimitar horned oryxes require a lot of water?

Answer 34

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.

Question 35

What is the maximum body temperature of a scimitar horned oryx?

Answer 35

115 degrees F.

Question 36

How do scimitar horned oryxes cool their blood before it gets to the brain?

Answer 36

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.

Question 37

Why is it important that scimitar horned oryxes cool their blood before it reaches the brain?

Answer 37

It is one of the most heat sensitive organs.

Question 38

How long can a scimitar horned oryx go without water?

Answer 38

10 months

Question 39

What is a hygroscopic plant?

Answer 39

A plant that retains a lot of water.

Question 40

When are scimitar horned oryxes sexually mature?

Answer 40

2 years

Question 41

What two major wars caused massive drops in the population of the scimitar horned oryx?

Answer 41

The Chad Civil War and WWII.

Question 42

How many scimitar horned oryx are there in captivity?

Answer 42

5,000

Question 43

What was the hide of the scimitar horned oryx used to make?

Answer 43

Rope and saddles.