fringe-eared oryx

The fringe-eared oryx is one of three large antelope species belonging to the genus Oryx. These mammals inhabit the deserts and dry plains of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.1

Oryxes are characterized by their powerful build, deep chests, short necks, and long limbs. While both sexes appear similar, females are less muscular. The fringe-eared oryx, a subspecies of O. gazella, is found in eastern and southern Africa, from the Horn of Africa down to Tanzania.1

These animals are primarily grazers, feeding on grasses and digging for water-storing roots and tubers. They can survive without drinking for extended periods, though they will drink regularly if water is available. Oryxes exhibit an unusual social structure adapted to desert life, forming herds that can include adults of both sexes, sometimes numbering up to 300 individuals.1