addax

The addax (Addax nasomaculatus), also known as the screwhorn antelope, is a critically endangered desert antelope in the bovine family. It is native to the Sahara and surrounding Sahel regions, where it inhabits remote dune seas and lightly vegetated sand flats.

The species is relatively large for a small antelope, with a pale, almost white coat that helps reflect heat; in winter the color may appear creamier with darker facial markings and limb patterning. Both sexes have long, corkscrew-shaped horns that curve outward and upward; in males the horns tend to be longer and thicker. The body is stocky with a short tail.

Addax are highly adapted to arid life. They can go long periods without drinking, obtaining much of their moisture from forage. Their bodies can withstand extreme temperatures, and they reduce water loss by elevating body temperature during the hottest part of the day and by seeking shade at rest.

They are herbivores, feeding on grasses, leaves, shrubs, and woody plants. They typically form herds that may be composed of dozens of individuals, with seasonal movements guided by rainfall and forage availability. Calves are born after a gestation of about eight to nine months, usually one at a time.

Conservation status: The addax is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN due to extensive hunting, habitat loss, and desertification, causing a highly fragmented and declining wild population likely numbering only a few hundred individuals. Threats include poaching for meat and hides and competition with livestock for forage. In response, protected areas, anti-poaching measures, and captive breeding programs exist, with occasional reintroduction efforts aimed at restoring wild populations.