Habitat: Dry plains and deserts, and to a lesser extent hillsides and thick brush semi desert region of Africa known as the "Great Steppe”.

Diet: Various grasses and roots, leaves and buds of shrubs and trees.

Reproduction: Courting is done through the means of a mating circle. During this ritual, the male and female stand parallel to one another facing opposite directions. Once the female Oryx is impregnated, gestation lasts between 8 and 8.5 months. There is only one calf per birth, weighing an average of 20 to 33 lbs (9 to 15 kg).

Behavior: Because of their magnificent horns, these animals have been hunted to near extinction. However, we are on the road to success to save this species. Zoo populations of Scimitar-horned Oryx are thriving through cooperation between North American and European zoos. Because of successful breeding, Scimitar-horned Oryx are being reintroduced in Tunisia.

Physical Description: The Scimitar-horned oryx, like other oryxes, has a black and white face mask. However, in this species the black tends to fade to a brownish color. Their basic color is white with rusty brown necks and chests. Some specimens have brown bands on their flanks along with a rusty brown spot outlined on the thigh. Like all oryxes, calves are born with yellow coats and lack distinguishing marks which appear later in life. The Scimitar-horned oryx is average in size compared to the larger East African oryx or the smaller Arabian oryx. Average length is 5.5 ft (1.7 m) with a shoulder height of about 3.8 ft (1.2 m) and an average weight of 148 lbs . It is the only oryx whose horns curve backwards. The horns average about 40 inches (1 m), but lengths of 50 inches (1.2 m) or more have been recorded. Both sexes have horns and, like other oryxes, the female's tend to be more slender.

Conservation Status: Critically Endangered

Fun Facts:

	In order to conserve water they allow their body temperature to rise as high as 116°F to prevent water loss.
	When there is ample water, oryxes can use fluid loss through urination and feces, to lower their body temperatures below 97 F (36 C) at night, thus allowing them more time before maximum body temperature is reached the following day.
	They have a network of fine blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the brain. These blood vessels travel close to the nasal passage, allowing cooling of up to 5°F of the blood before it is pumped to the brain, one of the most heat sensitive organs of the bo