Pygarg facts for kids
The pygarg is a fascinating animal mentioned in the Bible. It appears in the book of Deuteronomy as one of the animals that people were allowed to eat. The name "pygarg" comes from an old Greek translation of the Bible, meaning "white-rumped" or "white-buttocked."
What is the Pygarg?
The word "pygarg" comes from the Septuagint, which is a very old Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. In Hebrew, the animal was called ḏîšōn. The Greek word pygargos means "white-rumped," combining pyge (buttocks) and argo (white). The King James Version of the Bible then used the term "pygarg" from this Greek translation.
Was the Pygarg an Addax?
A scientist named Henry Baker Tristram suggested in 1867 that the pygarg might have been the addax. The addax is a type of antelope that lives in the Sahara Desert.
He described the addax as a large animal, standing over 3 and a half feet (about 1 meter) tall at the shoulder. It has gently twisted horns that can be 2 and a half feet (about 76 centimeters) long. The addax is mostly pure white, with a short black mane and a bit of a brownish color on its shoulders and back. This description fits the "white-rumped" idea of the pygarg.
Other Animals Called Pygarg
Interestingly, the term "pygarg" was also used for another animal in the 1700s. This animal was the Siberian roe deer. Its scientific name in Latin even includes the word pygargus. This shows how the name "pygarg" has been used for different animals over time, making its exact identity a bit of a mystery!
