Oryx antelope. Oryxes are skilled swordsmen. common oryx and man
Saharan oryx (Oryx dammah)
Just 5,000 years ago, on the site of the Sahara stretched endless savannas with abundant herbage and numerous trees. Giraffes, elephants, hippos and many other animals lived here, but there were no camels (they appeared here only in the 2nd century AD). In the future, the climate here began to deteriorate, become drier and hotter, and already 3000 years ago, hippos and rhinos disappeared from most of the central regions of the future desert. However, even 2000 years ago, fertile lands stretched along the sea coast of the Sahara, on which gardens and flower beds were planted by the ancient Romans.
Frescoes of Tassili (antelopes)
The only mammals that survived desertification were antelopes. Until recently, addax, oryx (oryx) and 5 types of gazelles were found in the Sahara: red-fronted, Cuvier (edmi), sandy, dorax and gazeldama. long time one of the dominant species was Saharan, or saber-horned, oryx. Ideally adapted to life among sandy plains and bare rocky plateaus, this dry-loving animal was one of the main characters in the rock art of local tribes of the Stone Age.
Drawings primitive man they convey in detail the episodes of the hunt for the oryx, which is clearly distinguishable in the images from other ungulates.
Here is how the French archaeologist Henri Lot describes these sketches, discovered by him in Tassili (Algeria): “I see an amazing picturesque composition: a herd of antelopes depicted in a heraldic style reminiscent of some decorative motifs of the Renaissance. This kind of decorative panel will make you talk about yourself someday, because this is an unsurpassed work of art by Tassili. It is located in one of the small depressions, all the walls of which are covered with paintings from top to bottom.
In the era of ancient civilizations, the oryx was successfully tamed first by the Egyptians who worshiped it, and then by the Romans. And today, the oryx is highly respected among Africans. Just as the lion symbolizes courage, the oryx symbolizes endurance and unpretentiousness. That is why the image of this animal adorned the state emblem of Namibia.
In nature, there are several types of oryx. In addition to the Saharan, zoologists know the Arabian and common oryx, as well as their varieties - beyza and gemsbok (Cape oryx). Since almost all of these antelopes, with the exception of gemsbok, are very few in number, they are poorly studied, and therefore it is very difficult to establish the degree of their relationship.
The Saharan Oryx is a fairly large antelope that grows up to 100-125 centimeters at the withers and weighs 130-200 kilograms. The color of the body in an adult animal is very light, from pale brown to milky coffee, almost white. The withers, neck and upper chest are usually deep brown with a reddish tinge. A newborn antelope is colored yellowish. In the wild, oryx preferred to stay in herds of 30 head. The food of the antelope, like all oryxes, is made up of herbs, roots and wild melons. Plants most often act as a source of moisture, because it is extremely difficult to find a watering place in the desert. The maximum life span of an oryx is 18 years.
Human attention to the oryx in old times partly due to the unusual, fabulous appearance that the animal is given by its horns. Symmetrical, slightly diverging to the sides, they reach a meter length, that is, equal to the growth of an antelope. Each such horn resembles a huge, slightly bent back pike and is deadly. dangerous weapon, which the antelope manages to stab even such a massive and strong predator like a lion.
sahara oryx
Zoologists suggest that the legends of unicorns piercing monsters with their horns are reworked tales of travelers about the oryx. However, the legend of the unicorn absorbed and mixed the meager knowledge not only about the oryx, but also about other mammals - from the polar whale narwhal and Indian rhinoceros up to the extinct mammoth and elasmotherium rhinoceros, whose bones were taken for the skeletons of a mythical animal.
Oryxes have always been of great commercial importance for local population- the Tuareg, who used on the farm everything that the antelope could give them. Tasty meat was dried in reserve, without losing its nutritional value. The skin, incredibly strong on the neck, was used to make combat shields, and later to create ... horseshoes for horses. The Tuareg did not know how to mine metal, and it is very difficult in the Sahara. And meanwhile at hand there was such fine material! Zoologists believe that the strong skin of oryx is a device that protected males in their mating tournaments (fights for a female).
Experienced hunters, the Tuareg never got more game than necessary, and they did not consider it a special valor to kill an antelope. The situation changed with the arrival of Europeans in the Sahara, who looked at hunting as fun. The European had guns and cars at his disposal, which deprived the oryx of the chance of salvation. Oryxes were the earliest extinct in Egypt, where the last antelopes of this species were hunted down in 1850. During the period of 1940-1970s, oryx disappeared from almost all regions North Africa except for Chad and Niger. However, according to 1985 data, no more than 500 animals have survived here. In the early 1990s, the Saharan oryx probably completely disappeared from the wild, surviving only in zoos around the world.
In the future, getting acquainted with the rare and endangered mammals of the world, we often learn with surprise about the enormous benefits of zoos. Initially, zoos were created as a place of recreation, where citizens could admire exotic animals for fun. However, in the 20th century, the zoo turned into a unique laboratory for the study and protection of wild animals - mammals, birds, reptiles and many others. Scientists serving the zoo take care of their pets, learn about their habits, nutrition and diseases, and achieve the reproduction of animals in captivity.
Currently, the world's zoos are carrying out breeding programs for 1000 species of animals, and every year the number of rescued species is increasing. Thanks to such programs, it was possible to save the David deer, Przewalski's horse, bison, kiang (Tibetan kulan) and many other animals from complete extinction. Now zoological gardens have become last resort for the Saharan oryx, and at the same time the center of the revival of his fellow - Arabian oryx.
The Arabian, or white, oryx was at one time considered an Asian subspecies of the common oryx. Hoofed in the 1960s suffered the same fate as his Sahara relative. This species has been completely extirpated in wild nature in 1972, when the last free oryx was shot while hunting in Oman. However, scientists noticed signs of disaster in time and tried to catch as many oryxes as possible for zoos. The main refuge of the endangered antelope has become a zoo in the US city of Phoenix. In the early 1980s, the restoration of the species began in its natural environment. In 1982 and 1984, two small herds of Arabian oryx were introduced to its historical homeland- to Oman. To date, Arabia is inhabited by 1000 white oryx.
gemsbok(Cape oryx), living in South Africa, is the most successful variety of the common oryx.
Arabian, or white, oryx
Its livestock exceeds 370 thousand individuals, so nothing threatens this species in the coming years. The antelope is distinguished from the Saharan and Arabian oryx by a denser color and dark stripes along the body, like the beyza. Another noticeable feature is the black “half-mask” on the muzzle. The Cape Oryx today is no longer just an African antelope. A small herd of gemsboks, through the efforts of man, is settled in the desert regions of New Mexico (USA), where it grazes in a semi-wild state.
Light-footed base otherwise called the East African oryx, since this animal inhabits the eastern part of the continent - the Somali Peninsula, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The animal's habitual environment is semi-deserts and shrub savanna within the plains and low mountains, but it rarely looks into rocky deserts. In this, the Beyza differs from the Saharan and Cape oryx, which easily hold onto open area. Ungulates prefer to stay away from places with dense grass or impenetrable shrubs, since in such an environment it is easy for a predator to sneak up on grazing antelopes.
Beiza, as a rule, does not form large herds, but gathers in groups of 6–12 heads. Almost all oryx, including the East African, are active at dawn and dusk, sometimes at night. But during the day they sleep in shelters, escaping from overheating. Such shelter for the antelope are shady areas under the trees. At times, the oryx itself digs a small depression among the roots and lays down there to rest.
The antelope grazes in families of several females with cubs and one older male. Sometimes there are mixed groups of several males and females; in addition, bachelor males are able to form temporary herds. During migrations, Beyza family groups mix with each other and with herds of other antelope species, and often join zebras. Such migrations are confined to certain seasons and are associated with a decrease in the amount of food in the old feeding areas.
Strict time limits for mating season beyza does not have, it is able to breed all year round.
However, most often, males and females form pairs during the rainy season.
Oryx, together with addax and black antelope, belongs to the group of so-called saber-horned antelope. Even more varied cow antelope, most of which are called bubals. Suffice it to say that the common bubal alone, or kongoni, found throughout Africa, is divided into 15 varieties: kaama, tora, level, etc.
Next, we will look at a few amazing views lyrehorned bubals. They earned their strange name from the shape of their horns. The horns of these antelopes grow from common ground and bend towards each other, creating something like a crescent or lyre above the head of the animal. The head of the bubals is narrow and large. The body length of all representatives of this genus is approximately the same: large males grow up to 200 centimeters. The appearance of these antelopes is distinguished by the sloping of the back in the direction from the shoulders to the croup, which is why the front legs seem longer than the hind legs.
Ornyxes, or oryxes, are unusually beautiful and large antelopes. They got their second name for their resemblance to chamois (a striped pattern on the muzzle), and a large body compared to other antelopes.
But, oryxes are in no way related to either chamois or bulls. Most close relative these antelopes are represented by equids, black antelopes and addaxes.
Only 4 types of oryx live in nature:
- White Arabian;
- East African (beiza);
- Cape, or saber-horned. In a different way - a saber-horned antelope.
Representatives of all types of oryx look about the same. At least the proportions of their body are identical for all of them: Height at the withers is more than 130 cm, the body weight of females is 180-210 kg, males - up to 260.
Oryxes have a rather graceful neck, well-muscled body and thin, high legs. The tail at the end has something like a brush. But the hair grows from the middle of the tail. Therefore, their tail is very similar to that of a horse. And a small short mane adds even more resemblance to this animal.
However, there is a zest in the appearance of this antelope. This is horns. They are the longest of all antelope horns. Moreover, in males they are a little massive, and somewhat shorter than in ladies of their own species. Straight-horned white, Cape and East African oryx are distinguished by their straight and long horns. In the saber-horned antelope, they are bent like sabers.
The Cape oryx has a gray colored body. Head, belly and legs - with former and black stripes. In the region of the undertail zone - necessarily medium-sized White spot. The tail is quite dark, almost black, and this tendency is preserved in the strip (belt) from the tail to the head.
The white oryx practically retains the color of the Cape, only its legs are darker and without transverse stripes, while the body, on the contrary, is very light, in some individuals it is almost snow-white.
The saber-horned antelope is almost white. Here are just the area of the necks, chest and stripe in the middle of the forehead red-brown. Legs - sand.
The horns of all oryx species are exclusively black.
East African Oryx, or Beisa (Oryx beisa) The main habitats of oryxes are Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The most common type of base. it can be found in Somalia, Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania.
Cape oryx has chosen the south and southwest of Africa. Saberhorns live in Nigeria, Mali and Chad. And once they could be found in northern Africa.
White oryx is a resident exclusively of the Arabian Peninsula.
Oryxes prefer dry and desolate places. In their habitual habitat, they chose deserts and semi-deserts, arid regions of the steppes. They easily take root in extreme conditions, they are never found in the savannah. But you can see among the quicksand. These antelopes, in principle, are not "tourists". Only danger, predators and hunger can drive them from their place. And so - they are practically sedentary animals.
Oryxes are the animals of dusk and dawn. They graze in the twilight coolness, and during the day they hide from the scorching sun in the shade.
The external melancholy of these antelopes is extremely deceptive. If they are in danger, they can run at speeds up to 70 km / h. And it's faster than the fastest Arabian horse, almost the same as a leopard. But - Oryxes can maintain this speed for a very long time. Therefore, they are quite difficult prey for any predator.
Oryxes live in small herds of 5-15 individuals. Very rarely, a herd can have up to 35 goals. The head of the herd is a large and experienced male. However, this large male can be found alone.
These antelope are super unpretentious in food. They can with equal pleasure eat the fruits of wild melons and watermelons, which, moreover, quench the thirst of desert antelopes, as well as dry grass and bush branches.
Oryxes can live without water for several weeks or even a month. They replenish moisture in the body with morning dew, which is collected by grazing in the early hours. But, if an oryx gets to a watering place, then it will definitely get drunk in reserve and from the heart.
Oryxes do not follow a seasonal breeding plan. As it will turn out - so it will turn out. Males are happy to arrange demonstration fights (for in these fights not even a drop of antelope blood has ever been shed). They butt foreheads, fencing with their impressive horns, they can kneel down ... but - all this is bloodless and safe for opponents.
The female bears a calf approximately like a person - 8.5-9 months. But in the case of an antelope, a newborn is born weighing up to 15 kilograms. The calf has a fawn color, which allows it to hide among the sands. He will lie down in a shelter for several days, and after that he will follow his mom on the heels.
An antelope weighing 150 kg is a very desirable prey for predators. But sometimes it is not even possible to defeat an oryx. There were cases when antelopes simply pierced them with their horns. Hyenas, and hunt only for small calves and sick antelopes.
The indigenous people of Africa rarely hunted oryx. They are not easy to catch up and even more difficult to drive. The trouble of these animals came along with firearms. It is difficult to resist the bullet, and there are plenty of people who want to pose against the backdrop of a large defeated antelope. The saddest fate befell the saber-horned antelope. She was killed for her exceptional beauty of the horns. This species is listed in the Red Book.
The number of the Arabian oryx was reduced to nothing by the hunts of sheikhs and other rich people. Arab world. The last white oryx living in the wild was killed in 1972. However, shortly before this, enthusiasts and wildlife conservationists managed to take three individuals to the United States, where in the city of Phoenix, in the local zoo, they managed to slightly increase the number of these animals. Part of the antelopes were returned to nature. However, full recovery is very far away. The level of poaching in the habitats of these animals is too high.
The Arabian oryx is listed in the Red Book, carefully protected by the government of Oman and declared a heritage of the countries of the Arab basin.
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Systematics
common oryx, or oryx Antelope, or oryx(Oryx gazella)
Class - mammals
Detachment - artiodactyls
Suborder - ruminants
Family - bovids
Genus - oryx
Appearance
With a shoulder height of 1.20 m, the common oryx is the most major representative kind of oryx. Both sexes have a thick neck, long and sharp horns, sometimes reaching 1.5 m, and a horse-like tail. Cubs, like other oryxes, are born already horned. With the exception of the underside of the body, their coloration is brownish-beige, with conspicuous black stripes on the sides and on upper parts limbs. characteristic feature This type of oryx has a black and white muzzle that looks like a mask.
Habitat
Gemsboks usually live in arid regions (deserts and semi-deserts), but are also found in savannahs. Their range stretches from Ethiopia and Somalia to Namibia and South Africa.
Lifestyle
Oryxes prefer to eat grasses, but they can also dig up roots, and also eat wild fruits. Although they sometimes drink water, they can do without water bodies, as they cover their water supply from food.
Females live in groups of up to 40 animals. Males live alone and protect their territory and all females on it from rivals. Fights between two males follow certain ritual movements and do not turn into an uncontrolled confrontation, since in this case they could cause serious injuries to each other.
reproduction
There is no specific period for mating animals. Pregnancy in these antelopes lasts from 8.5 to 10 months. 3.5 months after birth, the cub begins to eat vegetable food. Sexual maturity of females occurs at the age of 1.5 to 2 years, in males - at the age of 5 years.
Captive
In zoos, oryxes are fed hay and fresh alfalfa grass, chopped carrots and apples, lettuce and compound feed. All enclosures should have mineral blocks and small flow pools at all times.
Life expectancy in captivity is up to 20 years.
Distribution and appearance
Common oryx, or oryx ( Oryx gazella) lives in East and South Africa, its range stretches from Ethiopia and Somalia to Namibia and South Africa. These antelopes prefer deserts and semi-deserts, but are also found in open savannahs.
common oryx- a slender, harmoniously built animal, perfectly combining power and elegance. Both sexes have a thick neck, long relatively thin and sharp horns, reaching an average length of 90 cm (sometimes up to 1.5 m), and resembling a horse's tail. They are able to develop tremendous speed, besides they are very hardy and can run on high speed many tens of kilometers.
Nutrition
Oryxes are well adapted to a long existence without water. Oryx unpretentious in food and can eat the most meager vegetation. The basis of their diet is desert grasses covered with dust and sand - the teeth of these antelopes with high crowns are perfectly adapted for such rough food. In addition to herbs, the oryx supplements its menu with wild melons and cucumbers, and sometimes digs up tubers and plant roots.
reproduction
Pregnancy oryx lasts about 8.5 months, one cub is born, weighing 10-15 kg. He already has small horns on his head and after a few hours is quite capable of running after the herd.
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External signs
With a shoulder height of 1.20 m, the common oryx is the largest member of the oryx genus, also called oryx. Both sexes have a thick neck, long and sharp horns, sometimes reaching 1.5 m, and a horse-like tail. Cubs, like other oryxes, are born already horned. With the exception of the underside of the body, their coloration is brownish-beige, with conspicuous black stripes on the sides and on the upper parts of the limbs. A characteristic feature of this species of oryx is a black and white muzzle, similar to a mask.
Spreading
Gemsboks usually inhabit arid regions (deserts and semi-deserts) but are also found in savannahs. Their range stretches from Ethiopia and Somalia to Namibia and South Africa. Theoretically, they are more widely distributed than the Arabian and saber-horned oryx, and they are not threatened with extinction.
Behavior
Common oryx prefer to eat grasses, but are also able to dig up roots, and also feed on wild fruits. Although they sometimes drink water, they can do without water bodies, as they cover their water supply from food.
Females live in groups of up to forty animals. Males live alone and protect their territory and all females on it from rivals. Fights between two males follow certain ritual movements and do not turn into an uncontrolled confrontation, since in this case they could cause serious injuries to each other.
Subspecies
The East African Oryx, or Light-footed Beyza, is sometimes treated as a separate species. Oryx beisa, but more often it is considered a subspecies of the oryx. It is distributed from Ethiopia to northern Kenya. Another subspecies, the South African oryx ( Oryx gazella callotis), is found in southern Kenya and Tanzania. It differs from the base by wider black horizontal stripes on the sides (they are narrow in the first subspecies).
common oryx and man
Oryx is the personification of endurance and unpretentiousness. Therefore, he is depicted on the coat of arms of Namibia. In many regions of Africa, these oryx still exist in large numbers today. They have been hunted for centuries locals and used their skins for clothing, as well as the horns as the points of spears. There are a total of 300,000 oryx in Africa today. A small semi-wild population introduced by humans lives in the southern part of the US state of New Mexico.
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- Wozencraft, W.C./ Wilson D. E. & Reeder D. M. (eds). - 3rd edition. - - Mom, do not worry about me - as if reading my thoughts, Anna whispered. - I'm not afraid of pain. But even if it hurts a lot, grandfather promised to pick me up. I spoke to him yesterday. He'll be waiting for me if you and I don't succeed... And so does dad. They will both be there waiting for me. But it will be very painful to leave you ... I love you so much, mommy! ..
Anna hid in my arms, as if seeking protection... But I couldn't protect her... I couldn't save her. I did not find the "key" to Karaffa ...
- Forgive me, my sun, I let you down. I failed both of us... I didn't find a way to destroy him. I'm sorry Anna...
The hour passed unnoticed. We talked about different things, not returning to the murder of the Pope, since both knew very well that today we lost ... And it didn’t matter what we wanted ... Caraffa lived, and that was the worst and most important thing. We have not succeeded in freeing our world from it. Failed to save good people. He lived, despite any attempts, any desires. No matter what...
“Just don’t give up on him, mommy! .. I beg you, just don’t give up!” I know how hard it is for you. But we will all be with you. He has no right to live long! He is a killer! And even if you agree to give him what he wants, he will still destroy us. Do not agree, mom!!!
The door opened, and Caraffa stood on the threshold again. But now he seemed very dissatisfied with something. And I could roughly guess what ... Caraffa was no longer sure of his victory. This worried him, since he had only this, the last chance.
- So, what did you decide, Madonna?
I gathered all my courage not to show how my voice was trembling, and quite calmly said:
“I have already answered this question for you so many times, Holiness! What could have changed in such a short time?
There was a feeling of fainting, but, looking into Anna's eyes shining with pride, all the bad things suddenly disappeared somewhere ... How bright and beautiful my daughter was at that terrible moment! ..
“You are out of your mind, madonna!” Can you really just send your daughter to the basement? .. You know perfectly well what awaits her there! Come to your senses, Isidora!
Suddenly, Anna came close to Caraffe and said in a clear clear voice:
– You are not a judge and not God!.. You are just a sinner! That's why the Ring of Sinners burns your dirty fingers!.. I think it's not by chance that you are wearing it... For you are the meanest of them! You won't scare me, Caraffa. And my mother will never obey you!
Anna straightened up and... spat in Papa's face. Caraffa turned deathly pale. I have never seen anyone turn pale so quickly! His face literally turned ash gray in a split second ... and death flashed in his burning dark eyes. Still standing in a "tetanus" from Anna's unexpected behavior, I suddenly understood everything - she purposely provoked Karaffa so as not to pull! .. To solve something as soon as possible and not torment me. To go to my death myself... My soul was twisted with pain - Anna reminded me of the girl Damiana... She decided her fate... and I could not help. Couldn't interfere.