Scimitar Oryx: a two-minute wildlife lesson

More African Antelopes · day 6 of 7

Five facts

1. The scimitar oryx wears a desert outfit: its white coat bounces back the sun's rays, while its dark patches and tongue tip guard against sunburn.
2. Instead of sweating early, an oryx lets its body heat up to almost 46.5 °C first. That saves precious water in the desert.
3. Built-in air conditioning: blood heading to its brain passes close to the nose and can cool down by up to 3 °C on the way.
4. Scimitar oryxes can go 9 to 10 months without drinking. They get water from juicy plants such as wild melons.
5. Seen from the side, an oryx can look like it has a single horn. Aristotle and Pliny the Elder thought the oryx was the model for the unicorn.

The quiz

1. How does the oryx's coat help it in the desert?

• It soaks up heat to keep it warm
• It reflects the sun's rays (correct)
• It stores fat for winter
• It turns green in the rain

Its white coat reflects the sun, and its dark parts protect against sunburn.

2. How hot can an oryx's body get before it starts to sweat?

• Around 30 °C
• Exactly 37 °C
• Almost 46.5 °C (correct)
• It never sweats at all

Its body can reach almost 46.5 °C before it begins to sweat.

3. Where does an oryx cool the blood going to its brain?

• In its tail
• In its hooves
• In its horns
• Close to its nose (correct)

Fine blood vessels pass close to the nose, cooling the blood before it reaches the brain.

4. How long can a scimitar oryx survive without drinking water?

• 9 to 10 months (correct)
• 2 days
• 1 week
• 1 month at most

It can go 9 to 10 months without water, getting moisture from plants.

5. Which legendary creature may the oryx have inspired?

• The dragon
• The griffin
• The unicorn (correct)
• The phoenix

From some angles it looks one-horned, and ancient writers saw it as the unicorn's model.

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