Oryx dammah (Cretzschmar, 1826)
Scimitar-horned oryx, Sahara oryx
Taxonomy & Nomenclature
Synonym/s: Antilope dammah Cretzschmar, 1826 (protonym)
Conservation Status
Extinct in the wild
Last record: late 1980s-early 1990s
IUCN status: Extinct in the Wild
Distribution
North Africa
Anatomy & Morphology
Body mass: 177.6kg (Wimberly, 2023:SI:9)
Biology & Ecology
Hypodigm
USNM 449934 (Wimberly, 2023:SI:7)
USNM 575162 (Wimberly, 2023:SI:7)
USNM A35256 (Wimberly, 2023:SI:7)
Media
References
Aissa, Saidi et al. (2020). Cross-sectional study of Eimeria spp. infection in three antelope species (Addax nasomaculatus, Gazella dorcas and Oryx dammah) maintained in the Souss-Massa National Park (Morocco). Nature COnservation Research 5(2): 77-82. [Abstract]
Aulagnier, S., Cuzin, F., Thevenot, M. and Loggers, C. 2001. Morocco. In: D. P. Mallon and S. C. Kingswood (eds), Antelopes. Part 4: North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Global Survey and Regional Action Plans, pp. 13-21. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
Bassett, T. H. (1975). Oryx and Addax in Chad. Oryx 13(1): 50-51.
Bedeuls RC, Devillers P, Lafontaine R-M, Devillers-Terschuren J & Beudels M-O (Editors) (2006): Sahelo-Saharan Antelopes. Status and Perspectives. Report on the conservation status of the six Sahelo-Saharan Antelopes. CMS SSA Concerted Action. 2nd edition. CMS Technical Series Publication No. 11, UNEP/CMS Secretariat, Bonn.
BERTRAM, B. 1988. Reintroducing Scimitar-horned Oryx into Tunisia. In: Conservation and biology of desert antelopes, (eds) A. Dixon and D. Jones, Ch. 14. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
Beyouli, Houssem chedli Traouit and Neffati, Mohamed. (In Press, 2016). Vegetative habitat selection of Scimitar horned Oryx (Oryx dammah) in Bouhedma National Park, Southern Tunisia. Journal of King Saud University - Science. doi:10.1016/j.jksus.2016.04.003. [Abstract]
Bininda-Emonds, O.R.P., Cardillo, M., Jones, K.E., MacPhee, R.D.E., Beck, R.M.D., Grenyer, R., Price, S.A., Vos, R.A., Gittleman, J.L. & Purvis, A. 2007 The delayed rise of present-day mammals. Nature 446, 507-512.
Bonacina, Eleonora et al. (In Press, 2020). Deslorelin subcutaneous implants in Oryx dammah males for reproductive control. Theriogenology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.03.018
Brashares, J. S., Garland Jr, T., and Arcese, P. Phylogenetic analysis of coadaptation in behavior, diet, and body size in the African antelope. Behavioral Ecology 11, 4 (2000), 452–463.
Bush, M., Custer, R.S., Whitla, J.C. and Montali, R.J. (1983). Hematologic and serum chemistry values of captive scimitar-horned onyx (Oryx tao). J. Zoo Wildl. Med., 14: 51-56.
Caron, Sébastien. (2005). Technical note: Short observations of Scimitar-horned oryx grouping patterns and population structure during a protracted dry period in Bou-Hedma National Park, Tunisia. Royal Institute of Natural Sciences of Belgium [2005]: 1-17.
Chuven, Justin et al. (2018). Reintroduction of the scimitar–horned oryx in to the Ouadi Rime-Ouadi Achim Game Reserve, Chad, pp. 165-169. In: Soorae, P. S. (ed.). Global Reintroduction Perspectives: 2018. Case studies from around the globe. IUCN/SSC Reintroduction Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland and Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi, UAE. xiv + 286 pp.
Cooke, R. S. C., Woodfine, T., Petretto, M. and Ezard, T. H. G. 2016. Resource partitioning between ungulate populations in arid environments. Ecology and Evolution 6(17): 6354-6365.
Cuzin, F., Sehhar, E.A. and Wacher, T. 2007. Etude pour l'élaboration de lignes directrices et d'un plan d'action stratégique pour la conservation des ongulés au Maroc. Haut Commissariat aux Eaux et Forêts et à la Lutte Contre le Désertification (HEFLCD), Projet de Gestion des Aires Protégées (PGAP) et Banque Mondiale, Global Environment Facility (GEF). Two volumes.
Dalrymple, S. E., Abeli, T., Ewen, J. G., Gilbert, T. C., Hogg, C. J., Lloyd, N. A., Moehrenschlager, A., Rodríguez, J. P. and Smith, D. (2023). Addressing Threats and Ecosystem Intactness to Enable Action for Extinct in the Wild Species. Diversity 15: 268. https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020268
De Smet, K. and Smith, T. R. 2001. Algeria. In: D. P. Mallon and S. C. Kingswood (eds), Antelopes. Part 4. North Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Global Survey and Regional Action Plans, pp. 22-29. IUCN/SSC Antelope Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland.
Devillers, P. and Devillers-Terschuren, J. 2005. Oryx dammah. In: R. C. Beudels, P. Devillers, R. M. Lafontaine, J. Devillers-Terschuren and M. O. Beudels (eds), Sahelo-Saharan Antelopes. Status and Perspectives. Report on the conservation status of the six Sahelo-Saharan Antelopes. CMS SSA Concerted Action. 2nd edition. CMS Technical Series Publication N°11, 2005. UNEP/CMS Secretariat, Bonn, Germany.
DGF. 2001. Stratégie nationale tunisiennepour la conservation et la restauration des antilopes sahélo-sahariennes et de leurs habitats. . Direction-Générale des Forets, Ministère de l'Agriculture., Tunis.
DI CROCE, A. (2002). Comportamento dell’Orice (Oryx dammah) reintrodotto nel Parco Nazionale di Sidi Toui, Tunisia. Tesi di Laurea. Universita Degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”. Facolta di Scienza Matematiche, Fisiche e Naturali. Corso di Laurea in Scienze Biologiche. 145 pp.
Dolan, J. M. 1966. Notes on the scimitar-horned oryx, Oryx dammah, (Cretzschmar, 1826). International Zoo Yearkbook 6(1): 219-229.
Dragesco-Joffé, A. 1993. La Vie sauvage au Sahara. Delachaux et Niestlé, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Duthie, James (ed.). (2018). Back to the Wild: Reintroducing the Scimitar-Horned Oryx into Chad. Akkadia Press.
East, R. 1999. African Antelope Database 1999. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.
Engel J. Wakefield S.The biology, husbandry and conservation of scimitar-horned oryx, Oryx dammah. In: Gilbert T. Woodfine T(eds.). Reproduction. Hampshire (UK): Marwell Preservation Trust;2004. p. 14–20.
Ferrell, S.T., Radcliffe, R.W., Marsh, R., Thurman, C.B., Cartwright, C.M., De Maar, T.J.W., Blumer, E.S., Spevak, E. and Osofsky, S.A. (2001). Comparisons among selected neonatal biomedical parameters of four species of semi free-ranging hippotragini: Addax (Addax nasomaculatus), scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah), Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx), and sable antelope (Hippotragus niger). Zoo Biol. 20(1): 47-54.
Flach, E. 2004. Veterinary Guidelines. In: The biology, husbandry and conservation of scimitarhorned oryx Oryx dammah. pp. 46-53. Marwell Wildlife. U.K.
Gilbert, T. 2004. Wild diet. In: The biology, husbandry and conservation of scimitar-horned oryx Oryx dammah. (eds. Gilbert, T. and Woodfine, T.) pg. 4. Marwell Wildlife. U.K.
Gilbert, T. 2005. International Studbook for scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah). Unpublished Report by Marwell Preservation Trust, Winchester, UK.
Gilbert, T. 2015. International studbook for the scimitar-horned oryx Oryx dammah. Tenth edition. Current to 31 December 2014. Marwell Wildlife, Winchester, UK.
Gilbert, T., Petretto, M. and Woodfine, T. (2012). Wildlife conservation in Tunisia: from scimitar-horned oryx reintroduction to ecosystem preservation. Report & funding proposal for supporters and scimitar-horned oryx EEP members. Marwell Wildlife, U.K.
GILLET, H. 1965. L'Oryx algazelle et l'Addax au Tchad. La Terre et la Vie 3: 257-272.
Gillet, H. 1969. L'oryx algazelle et l'addax au Tchad, Distribution géographique. Chances de survie. C. R. Soc. Biogéogr. 405: 177-189.
Gippoliti, Spartaco. (2024). Four hundred years of studying and collecting African mammals: a review of Italian contributions to African mammalogy. J. of Vertebrate Biology 73(23110): 1-13. https://doi.org/10.25225/jvb.23110
Go, Du-Min et al. (2018). Uterine metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma in a scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah). The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science.
GORDON, I.J. 1989. A case of interspecific aggression between Scimitar-horned Oryx (Oryx dammah) and Addax (Addax nasomaculatus). Journal of Zoology, London, 218: 335-337.
GORDON, I.J. 1991. Ungulate re-introductions: the case of the Scimitar-horned oryx. Symposium Zoological Society London, 62: 217-240.
Gordon, I.J. and J.P. Gill. 1993. Reintroduction of scimitar-horned oryx, Oryx dammah, to Bou-Hedma National Park, Tunisia. International Zoological Yearbook 32: 69-73.
Grettenberger, J.F., Newby, J.E. 1990. Niger. In: East, R. (ed.), Antelope. Global survey and regional action plans. Part 3. West and Centrral Africa, pp. 14-22. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
Heringa, A.C. 1990. Mali. In: R. East (ed.), Antelopes: Global survey and regional action plans. Part 3: West and Central Africa, pp. 8-14. IUCN/SSC Antelope Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.
IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group. (2008). Oryx dammah. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T15568A4822675. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T15568A4822675.en. Downloaded on 27 May 2016.
IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group. (2016). Oryx dammah. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T15568A50191470. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T15568A50191470.en. Accessed on 11 June 2022.
Iyengar, A., T. Gilbert, T. Woodfine, J.M. Knowles, F.M. Diniz, R.A. Brenneman, E.E. Louis Jr., and N Maclean. 2007. Remnants of ancient genetic diversity preserved within captive groups of scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah). Molecular Ecology 16: 2436-2449.
Jones, K.E. et al. 2009 PanTHERIA: A species-level database of life-history, ecology and geography of extant and recently extinct mammals. Ecology 90: 2648.
Lee, T. E., Fisher, D. O., Blomberg, S. P. and Wintle, B. A. (2017). Extinct or still out there? Disentangling influences on extinction and rediscovery helps to clarify the fate of species on the edge. Global Change Biology 23(2): 621-634. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13421
Lignereux, Louis et al. (2020). Foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in captive scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah). Transbound Emerg Dis. doi: 10.1111/tbed.13502. [Abstract]
Lignereux, Louis et al. (2022a). Brucella melitensis biovar 1 isolation in a captive wildlife population in the United Arab Emirates. First isolation in the scimitar-horned Oryx (Oryx dammah). Veterinary Microbiology 266: 109360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2022.109360
Lignereux, Louis et al. (2022b). Brucellosis seroprevalence in captive scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah) in the United Arab Emirates and associated risk factors. Emerging Animal Species 5: 100016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eas.2022.100016
Little, H. A., Gilbert, T. C., Athorn, M. L. and Marshall, A. R. (2016). Evaluating Conservation Breeding Success for an Extinct-in-the-Wild Antelope. PLoS ONE 11(12): e0166912.
MacKenzie PZ (1954): Catalogue of wild mammals of the Sudan occurring in the natural orders Artciodactyla and Perissodactyla. Sudan Museum (Natural History) publication N0. 4, Khartoum.
Majaliwa, M. M. et al. (2022). Experience and social factors influence movement and habitat selection in scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah) reintroduced into Chad. Movement Ecology 10: 47. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-022-00348-z
Mallon, D. P. and Kingswood, S. C. (compilers). (2001). Antelopes. Part 4: North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Global Survey and Regional Action Plans. SSC Antelope Specialist Group. Gland, Switzerland & Cambridge, U.K.: IUCN. 260 pp.
Mas, Martí et al. (2021). Prehistoric Fine-Line Rock Engravings in Tamanart (Morocco): Tachokalt and Anou L’haj. Hespéris-Tamuda LVI(1): 235-271.
Meliane, Mohamed Khalil et al. (2023). Daily and seasonal activity patterns of the dorcas gazelle, scimitar-horned oryx, north-African ostrich and canids in an arid habitat. African Journal of Ecology 61(1): 118-128. https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13089
Mertes, Katherine et al. (2022). Assessing neophobia and exploration while accounting for social context: an example application in scimitar-horned oryx. Mammalian Biology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42991-022-00271-1
MESOCHINA, P., BEDIN, E. & OSTROWSKI, S. 2003. Reintroducing antelopes into arid areas: lessons learnt from the oryx in Saudi Arabia. Comptes Rendus Biologies 326: 158-165.
Morrow, C., Molcanova, R. and Wacher, T. 2013. Oryx dammah Scimitar-horned Oryx. In: J. Kingdon and M. Hoffmann (eds), The Mammals of Africa. VI: Pigs, Hippopotamuse, Chevrotain, Giraffes, Deer, and Bovids, pp. 586-592. Bloomsbury Publishing, London, UK.
NEWBY, J.E. 1978. Scimitar-horned Oryx – the end of the Line? Oryx, 14(3): 219-221.
NEWBY, J.E. 1980. Can Addax and Oryx be saved in the Sahel? Oryx, 15(3): 262-266.
Newby JE (1982): Action plan for the Sahelo-Saharan fauna of Africa. WWF/IUCN, Gland.
Newby, J. E. 1988. Aridland wildlife in decline: the case of the scimitar-horned oryx. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
Ogden, Rob et al. (2020). Benefits and pitfalls of captive conservation genetic management: Evaluating diversity in scimitar-horned oryx to support reintroduction planning. Biological Conservation 241: 108244. [Abstract]
Pauling, Cassandra Dawn. (2015). Surveying Internal Parasites and Fecal Cortisol in Captive Scimitar-Horned Oryx, [i]Oryx dammah[/i], between Environments. Thesis, University of Central Missouri.
Pauling, Cassandra Dawn, Lankford, Scott E. and Jackson, Victoria L. (2017). Fecal cortisol levels in scimitar-horned oryx, [i]Oryx dammah[/i], reveals differences between captive environments. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 48(4):1049-1057. [Abstract]
Pauling, Cassandra Dawn, Oller, Anna and Jackson, Victoria. (In Press, 2016). Fecal parasite identification by microscopy and PCR in scimitar-horned oryx, [i]Oryx dammah[/i], managed at two sites. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2016.11.001
Shang, Shuai et al. (2019). Gut microbiota of the scimitar-horned oryx, Oryx dammah. Folia Zoologica 68(4): 269-273. [Abstract]
Smith, Donal et al. (2023). Extinct in the wild: The precarious state of Earth’s most threatened group of species. Science 379(6634): eadd2889. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.add2889
SPINAGE, C.A. 1986. The natural history of Antelopes. Croom Helm, London, UK.
TEAR, T.H. & ABLES, E.D. 1999. Social system development and variability in a reintroduced Arabian oryx population. Biological Conservation 89(2): 199-207.
Thomassey, J.-P. and Newby, J. E. 1990. Chad. In: R. East (ed.), Antelopes: Global Survey and Regional Action Plans. Part 3: West and Central Africa, pp. 22-28. IUCN/SSC Antelope Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.
Turvey, Samuel T. and Fritz, Susanne A. (2011). The ghosts of mammals past: biological and geographical patterns of global mammalian extinction across the Holocene. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 366(1577): 2564-2576. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2011.0020 [Supplementary Information]
WACHER, T.J. 1986a. The reintroduction of Scimitar-horned Oryx (Oryx dammah) from the United Kingdom to Tunisia. Report No. 1, December 1985. Oxford University and Zoological Society of London, 31 p.
WACHER, T.J. 1986b. The reintroduction of Scimitar-horned Oryx (Oryx dammah) from the United Kingdom to Tunisia. Report No. 2, April-May 1986. Oxford University and Zoological Society of London, 18 p.
WAKEFIELD, S. 1995. European studbook for Scimitar-horned Oryx (Oryx dammah), data current to 31 December 1995. Marwell Zoological Park, England, n°1, 39 p.
Wakefield, S., J. Engel, and T. Gilbert. 2004. Conservation. In: The biology, husbandry and conservation of scimitar-horned oryx, Oryx dammah. (eds. Gilbert, T. and Woodfine, T.) pp.14-20. Marwell Wildlife. U.K.
WAKEFIELD, S. & MOLCANOVÀ, R. 2001. Report of the reintroduction project of Scimitar-horned Oryx (Oryx dammah). Parc National de Sidi Toui, Tunisia. Report to the Sahelo-Saharan Antelope Interest Group (SSIG), March 2001, 12 pp.
Weibel, C. (2014). Determination of scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah) causes of infertility. Biodiversity Stewardship Report Series. No. BS14.01. Biodiversity Stewardship Lab, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. 77843-2258.
Wimberly, Alexa N. (2023). Predicting body mass in Ruminantia using postcranial measurements. Journal of Morphology 284(10): e21636. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21636 [Supporting Information]
Woodfine, T., & Gilbert, T. (2016). The Fall and Rise of the Scimitar‐Horned Oryx: A Case Study of Ex‐Situ Conservation and Reintroduction in Practice. Antelope Conservation: From Diagnosis to Action, 280.
WOODFINE, T., GILBERT, T. & ENGEL, H. (2005): A summary of past and present initiatives for the conservation and reintroduction of addax and scimitar-horned oryx in North Africa. Proceedings of the EAZA Conference 2004, Kolmarden. EAZA Executive Office, Amsterdam: 208-211.
Wootton, J. T. The effects of body mass, phylogeny, habitat, and trophic level on mammalian age at first reproduction. Evolution 41, 4 (1987), 732–749.
http://www.doaj.org/doaj?func=abstract&id=1107138
http://www.thenational.ae/uae/animals/500-scimitar-horned-oryx-to-be-introduced-to-chad-game-reserve
http://insider.si.edu/2016/04/25-scimitar-horned-oryx-reintroduced-wild-chad/
http://patch.com/district-columbia/washingtondc/smithsonian-sends-extinct-antelope-back-africa
https://face2faceafrica.com/article/oryx-chad
http://www.gulftoday.ae/portal/2d720e81-d0f4-4e07-92b4-4bbdaa41e039.aspx
http://extinctanimals.proboards.com/thread/7518/scimitar-horned-oryx-dammah
https://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-02513168/document
https://www.nzm.cz/file/2cc4a4ac51925cd95fdb17ee70128d25/15742/sallacova%20sbirka%20turovitych.pdf