Addax
A Desert Survivor on the Brink of Extinction
The Addax (Addax nasomaculatus), often called the white antelope or screwhorn antelope, is one of the world's rarest and most endangered large mammals. Once roaming in vast herds across the Sahara Desert, this remarkable species is now considered Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Today, fewer than 100 addax are believed to remain in the wild, making them one of the most threatened antelope species on Earth.
Size: Both males and females possess long, spiraled horns that can reach 30–43 inches in length with adults weigh approximately 220–300 pounds
Features: Their coat changes with the seasons, appearing almost pure white during summer to reflect sunlight and becoming grayish-brown during cooler winter months.
Large, broad hooves act like natural snowshoes, preventing them from sinking into loose desert sand.
Distinct facial markings and a dark tuft of hair on the forehead help distinguish the species.
Conservation Status: Because of unregulated hunting and habitat fragmentation, it is estimated that fewer than 100 individuals (with some estimates much lower) survive in the wild
Range: Northern Africa (Chad, Niger, Sahara Desert)
Range area of Addax in Africa
