Scimitar-horned Oryx - North America Introduced | Online Record Book Preview

Oryx dammah

Orix cimitaria (Sp), Sabelantilope (G), Oryx algazelle (F).

DESCRIPTION (male) Shoulder height 46-48 inches (117-122 cm). Weight 440-460 pounds (200-210 cm). Females are slightly smaller.

A large, heavily built antelope, very pale in color except for its reddish-brown neck and chest. The face is white with brownish markings. Tail is long and tufted. The hoofs are large, having evolved for walking on sand in its native habitat. Both sexes grow long, scimitar-shaped horns that are ringed and nearly parallel. Females are similar to males, but slightly smaller and with slimmer horns.

DISTRIBUTION Private ranches, mainly in Texas, but also in other U.S. states and in Mexico.

Private herds may also be found in Europe and South Africa.

REMARKS Native to the subdesert zone on both sides of the Sahara Desert in northern Africa, where it is now believed extinct (IUCN, 1998) from uncontrolled hunting by locals and competition from domestic lifestock for the limited vegetation.

As of 4/4/12 every entry must have a copy of the US Fish & Wildlife harvest permit accompany the score sheet to be considered as a entry.

HYBRIDIZATION The scimitar-horned oryx is either known or believed to crossbreed, or to be the result of hybridization, when in a game ranch environment.