Mammals
Addax
Addax nasomaculatus · also called white antelope
Surviving on moisture pulled entirely from desert plants, an addax represents one of the most critically endangered large mammals on Earth, its pale coat and twisted horns now more commonly seen in protected reserves than across the vast Saharan range it once called home.
Overview
The addax, Addax nasomaculatus, is a critically endangered desert antelope historically native to the Sahara, with only a small handful of individuals now surviving in the wild. Its long, twisted spiral horns, pale heat-reflecting coat, and ability to survive without drinking free water make it one of the most physiologically remarkable yet conservation-critical antelope species found anywhere in the world.
A species surviving mainly through human care
With so few individuals left in the wild, the addax’s continued existence now depends heavily on captive breeding programs and protected reserves, a stark reminder of how close this remarkably desert-adapted antelope has come to disappearing entirely.
Status
Critically Endangered, with only a small handful of individuals surviving in the wild and most of the species now maintained through captive breeding.
Addax: common questions
How endangered is the addax?
This species has been reduced to only a small handful of individuals surviving in the wild across the Sahara, making it one of the most critically endangered large mammals in the world, with most of the species surviving through captive breeding instead.
How does the addax survive in the desert without drinking water?
This species is adapted to survive without drinking free water, relying instead on moisture extracted directly from the desert grasses and shrubs it eats across extreme Saharan conditions.
Why is the addax so pale in colour?
This species has a pale, almost white coat, particularly noticeable in summer, an adaptation that helps reflect intense desert heat rather than absorbing it.
Where does most of the addax population live today?
Most of the surviving addax population exists through captive breeding programs and protected reserves rather than in the wild, since the wild Saharan population has been reduced to critically low numbers.