Oryx facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oryxes |
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| Oryx gazella | |
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Hippotraginae
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Oryx
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Oryx beisa Rüppell, 1835 |
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The Oryx (also called the sabre antelope) is a fast-running mammal with hooves. It lives in dry areas of Africa and Asia, including the Arabian peninsula. You can find oryxes in sparse grasslands, semi-deserts, and deserts.
About Oryxes
Oryxes live in groups called herds. A herd can have anywhere from 8 to 60 oryx. Baby oryx, called calves, can run with their herd just minutes after they are born! They can live for about 20 years.
Some stories say that the mythical unicorn might have been inspired by the oryx, perhaps because of its long, straight horns.
Sadly, many types of oryxes, like the Arabian oryx and the scimitar-horned oryx, are endangered. This means there are very few of them left in the wild. The main reasons for this are too much hunting and diseases.
What Do Oryxes Eat?
The Oryx is an herbivore, which means it eats only plants. It enjoys eating grasses, shrubs, and roots. Oryxes spend most of their time grazing, which is like munching on plants.
Oryxes are also ruminants. This means they swallow their food without chewing it much at first. Later, they bring up a partly-digested "cud" (like a food ball). They chew this cud and then swallow it for the last time.
These desert animals are amazing because they can go for weeks without drinking water! They get most of the water they need from the plants they eat.
Images for kids
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East African oryx in the Awash National Park, Ethiopia
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Oryx dammah is the only oryx with clearly curved horns, an ochre neck, and no dark markings on the legs.
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Oryx beisa resembles the closely related O. gazella, but the latter has an entirely black tail and more black to the legs and lower flanks.
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See also
In Spanish: Oryx para niños
