Addax

The addax antelope is found in the Sahara Desert and is well adapted to some of the driest and hottest conditions on Earth. The antelope rarely drinks liquid water, and can obtain most of the water it needs to survive from the plants it eats. It moves great distances in search of vegetation to eat and often spends long periods out in the open.

During the summer, addaxes are almost white, but their coat darkens in winter. The paler coat helps to reflect the sun's heat during the hottest time of the year.

This species was once found across North Africa, although the scarcity of food in the desert meant that it was never present in large numbers. However, as one of the few large mammals to live in the deserts of North Africa, the addax has long been a target of hunters, who made use of its meat and hide. As a result of over-hunting in the last century, the addax now lives in a few tiny populations scattered across its original range. It is one of the most endangered of all antelope species. The species has some protection from extinction, however. Large numbers live in zoos.

Distribution: Sahara Desert.

Habitat: Desert.

Food: Grasses and shrubs.

Size: 1.5 - 1.7 m (5 - 5.5 ft); 60 - 125 kg (132.25 - 275.5 lb).

Maturity: 2-3 years.

Breeding: Single calf born in spring.

Life span: 25 years.

Status: Endangered.