Endangered Species Guide : Mammals : Animal Planet

Endangered Mammals

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ARABIAN ORYX (Oryx leucoryx)

The Arabian oryx is an antelope that lives in nomadic herds. It follows the elusive desert rains and has several unique adaptations to living in a dry climate, including being able to go without water for weeks at a time. Now extinct in the wild, it once occurred throughout the Arabian Peninsula. As a flagship species — one that is popular and the target of conservation efforts — re-establishing oryx populations in the Arabian Peninsula may result in protections for many other species.

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IUCN Status: Endangered
USFWS Status: Endangered
Major Threat: Hunting
Habitat: Plains and deserts
Location: Arabian Peninsula
Diet: Buds, grasses and leaves

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