Overview
The overall color of the Beisa oryx is a sandy gray, with no black on rump or thighs. The black flank bands are wider than in the Fringe-eared oryx, but narrower than in the gemsbok. The black facial stripes do not unite to form a muzzle band, thus the white stripes are continuous from above the eyes to the muzzle. Ears are rather large, and without a hair fringe. The horns are shorter and less divergent than the gemsbok's-similar to those of the Fringe-eared oryx, but slimmer.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Bovidae
- Genus
- Oryx
- Species
- beisa
Habitat
Semi-arid grasslands, scrubland, and Acacia woodland. Distribution- Southeastern Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, northeastern Uganda, and in Kenya north of the Tana River.
Diet
Almost entirely a grazer.
Behavior
These animals travel across territories of up to 150 square miles (388 sq km / 96,000 acres) in search for suitable food, and live in nomadic herds of 25 or more individuals.
Hunting
While populations have declined in their native African range, this animal has been introduced in New Mexico and Texas, and are thus hunted on private game ranches by a variety of methods.
Conservation Status
Listed as Vulnerable by IUCN.