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| Latin name | Addax nasomaculatus |
| Length | 1.2-1.8m (4-6ft) |
| Height | 1.0-1.2m (3-4ft) |
| Weight | 60-140kg (132-308lb) |
| Gestation | 257 to 264 days |
| No. of young | 1 |
| Lifespan | Less than 10 years in the wild, |
The original range of the Addax extended from the Western Sahara and Mauritania to Egypt and Sudan. However, their range has now been reduced to southwestern Sahara, Mali and Chad. They live in harsh desert and semi-desert areas where there is little water and scant vegetation.
Being a herbivore, the diet of an Addax consists entirely of vegetation. They eat desert succulents, grasses, herbs, leaves from bushes and any desert fruits they may find, such as wild watermelons. Addax are well adapted to the desert as they can obtain sufficient water from the plants that they eat but they will drink water if available. They feed early in the morning and at night and will take shelter during the day to avoid the high daytime temperatures.
The gestation period for Addax is 257-264 days, after which a single calf is born.
The Addax is well built with a heavy head and shoulders and short, thick legs. Their coat changes colour depending on the time of year; in the winter the coat is a dark greyish brown colour and is thicker to protect it from the harsh temperatures. In the summer the coat changes colour to white as this lighter colour reflects the suns rays, preventing the Addax from becoming too hot. Both the males and females have thin, open spiraled horns which can reach up to 89cm. They have a mat of brown hair on their foreheads.
Addax are adapted well to desert life and have broad flat hooves with flat soles. These prevent the Addax from sinking into the sand and allow them to travel easily over sand for long distances in their search for vegetation. Addax do not establish long term territories but will move backwards and forwards along their range following the rains. Before being eliminated from most of their natural range, they could be found in herds of 5-20 individuals lead by a dominant male. Now, they would be found as isolated individuals.
During the day, Addax take shelter by digging depressions in soft ground that is partly located underneath boulders. This gives them shade and protection from sand and wind.
The Addax are nearly extinct in the wild, there is thought to be only about 200 individuals left there now and their range has been greatly reduced. They have an important role in their area as they are browsers and grazers and are also important prey for carnivores.
Their numbers have been reduced due to hunting. Hunting has increased since World War 2. Motorized vehicles have made it easier for tourists and locals to hunt and chase them to exhaustion and death. They are hunted for both meat and skin.
They also face competition with domestic livestock, especially during times of drought. Progressive desertification has also been a problem for these antelope.
The only factor which has prevented these animals from becoming totally extinct in the wild, is that some areas of the desert are inaccessible. Fortunately, Addax have bred well in captivity.
- Addax are heavily built and that makes them unable to reach high speeds. They can be easily overtaken by horses or dogs.
- Addax were kept in large numbers, semi-tame by ancient Egyptians in the 14th Century BC.
- They have the remarkable ability to sense patches of vegetation large distances away.
- Addax could become a valuable resource if farmed like cattle in the future.