Addax - description, habitat, lifestyle

By addax is meant an antelope that is distinguished by unusual external data. For the most part, individuals of the species under discussion are common in Nigeria, Libya, Mali, and Sudan. They like sandy soil, as well as rocky terrain. When family members go looking for food, they can go a decent distance. It is generally accepted that this artiodactyl mammal follows rainfall. We will not run ahead, we will study the features in the next order.

Description

1. Pigmentation of the coat changes depending on what period of the year we are talking about. Individuals of the presented species can be almost whitish, beige, brown and gray. It is believed that in the cold season they darken, and in the warm lighten. On the head are marks of a whitish tone. They are also present on the lateral parts of the body, hips, and abdominal part. There is a patch of dark pigmentation on the frontal section.
2. All individuals, regardless of gender, have horns. They are directed to the back, in their structure they are of the order of 2–4 turns. They are about 0.6 m in length, but sometimes more. Hooves widescreen. They are set apart due to the fact that the animals were forced to adapt to movement in deserts and embankments.
3. Representatives of the genus extend up to 1.5 meters along the body, and grow up to one meter along the withers. The tail is additionally given about 30 cm. Sexual dimorphism is expressed only in the fact that the males are slightly larger than the female representatives of the family. As for the area of ​​residence, these animals do not need fresh water. They can surround themselves with rocks and sand.
4. The range does not affect all parts of the globe. To a greater extent, the population is dispersed in desert areas. It's about proximity to the Sahara. Meet the discussed family representatives in Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Mali, Chad, Mauritania. They like a desert or semi-desert region.

Behavior

1. These individuals are characterized by wakefulness in the twilight time, as well as before dawn. These time intervals indicate that animals like to be active in coolness. It is this temperature that is observed near the deserts, when the sun has not yet set or has already set.
2. It is rarely possible to meet representatives of the species moving around the area in solitude. Basically, antelopes gather in herds of 15 individuals on average. They have a leader who leads his wards along the right path. In this way, the endurance of animals is checked, because when moving, the weakest and the sick die.
3. When you need to stop to rest, hide from a strong wind or flying sand, animals dig holes in the sand. They fall inside the pit and wait for the moment when it will be possible to continue the path. Some enterprising addaxes hide behind bushes or rocky areas, it all depends on the location. Animals run slowly, so they can become the prey of large predators.
4. It can be said with great confidence that members of the family are adapted to the heat. But they also need a shadow in order to replenish their strength. Individuals have the ability to raise their own body temperature in order to reduce the amount of fluid leaving the body and prevent dehydration. Other mammals do not possess this.
5. Individuals of male gender choose for themselves individual sites that can be visited by females who want to have offspring. Each male vehemently protects his possessions.If suddenly someone enters the territory and tries to lead the female away, a serious bloody battle will begin. In the process of mating, one male representative accounts for a pair of females.

Enemies

1. Since members of the family are considered large-sized and move slowly, they are considered excellent prey for humans. People are the main threat leading to a reduction in the number of goals. Poachers kill individuals for the sake of skin and meat.
2. Today these animals are one of the rarest. In the natural distribution environment, there are no more than 250 individuals. They live in their element. It is difficult to protect the representatives of the group, because they bypass people and settle far. In captivity, there are still about a thousand heads.

Food

1. The diet of animals mainly consists of low shrubs and various herbs. It is noteworthy that individuals are able to overcome impressive distances in the desert. The animal does this in order to find at least some vegetation on such open spaces.
2. It is interesting that it is the addax among the other relatives that is most adapted to life in such harsh conditions. The desert is far from the place where any animal can survive. Individuals manage to do without water for most of their lives. Addaxes receive all liquid reserves precisely from plants. Only in this way can an animal survive.

Breeding

1. It is curious that the presented animals can reproduce offspring all year round. Such individuals do not have a clear mating season. They mate year round. Often the peak of the appearance of young animals falls at the end of winter or early spring.
2. The female continues to bear babies for 8 months. Then only 1 baby can be born. In extremely rare cases, twins are born in addaxes. Literally an hour after the birth of the baby, they are already able to run after their mother.
3. The interesting thing is that only the female takes care of the offspring. Youngsters live with their mother for a year. After this time, they begin to get used to living independently and leave the family.
4. Males reach puberty at the age of about 2 years. Females become sexually mature closer to 3 years. In general, the life expectancy of wild antelopes is about 20 years.

Data

1. Addax got its name from the Latin word, which literally translates as a wild animal with rounded horns. Also, the species name is characterized as a spotted nose. This is due to the fact that the animal has contrasting white spots. They clearly stand out against the dark background in which the head is painted.
2. As mentioned earlier, the individuals in question feel great in the desert. Therefore, add-ons literally merge with the situation in the Sahara. Even in the summer season, such animals have a light color. Moreover, they can observe a yellowish or gray tint. In winter, the color of individuals darkens a little. This helps to blend in with the decor.
3. Due to the widely spaced hooves, the presented antelopes are able to move along the sand without problems. If a sandstorm rises or the sun unbearably fries, animals dig deep holes in the sand with their powerful hooves. In such a place, individuals can take shelter from adverse weather.

It is noteworthy that animals are able to independently increase the temperature of their own body. The bottom line is that when the body temperature is equal in performance to the environment, the individual sweats less. Accordingly, the animal practically does not lose precious moisture.

Video: Addax (Addax nasomaculatus)