• Cats
• Camel
• Desert Bighorn Sheeps
• Desert Gazelles
• Desert Antelope
• Foxes
• Jackrabbits
• Mice and Rats
• Meerkats
• Mule Deer
• Przewalski's horse
• Wild Asses

Desert Antelope

Who would have thought that even the antelopes from the plains have adapted to desert life? Unlike some other mammals, antelopes need quite a lot of vegetation and water to stay alive. But they have one advantage. Their even-toed hooves make it possible for them to live in the desert environment. The desert antelopes have to journey long distances in search of plants and pools of rainwater, and can travel up to 80km a day. These are: * the addax of the Sahara * the oryx of the Middle Eastern deserts Unfortunately, desert antelopes are one of the most threatened animals in the desert. In the beginning of the 20th century, many of them were killed and slaughtered. Spotting a wild addax or oryx is now an extremely rare sight.

Addax

[ An addax with long horns ]

This medium-sized antelope has long spiral horns on top of its head. Addaxes live in small herds in the dry parts of the Sahara. How well has the addax adapted to the desert? Addax can stand great heat, but they usually find some shade if possible. The addax has broad, flat hooves that turn outwards. This allows them to walk on the sand without sinking. Addaxes have a strong sense of smell, and can locate fresh grass and leaves with it. Addaxes do not need to drink water. Plants and dew provide all the moisture they need. Addax were once common in the Sahara, but now they are nearly extinct. Many of them have been wildly hunted as trophies or for folk medicine.

Oryx

[ A group of oryx drinking water ]

There are 3 types of oryx, patterned in brown, black and white. The white reflects the sun's heat. Oryxes have a pair of big horns about 1-2m long. Some are curved and some are straight. How do they find water? Oryxes have a special ability to sense a rainstorm. When they sense it, they will move to the place and wait for the storm. However, they can live without drinking for a long time, getting moisture from dew and plants. The Arabian oryx This shy type of oryx from the Arabian Desert had become completely extinct in the wild in 1972. Fortunately, an American zoo was breeding some Arabian oryx. About 5 years later, some of these oryxes were brought back to the wild.

[ Some oryx running over the desert ]