# Addax Nasomaculatus

The Addax is a beautiful desert antelope that can survive without drinking water for long periods! Its twisted horns and striking coat help it blend into the sandy landscape.

- **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Addax live in the Sahara Desert and other arid regions.
- **Also known as:** Desert Antelope

![Addax Nasomaculatus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Addax_%28Addax_nasomaculatus%29_adult_male_and_juvenile.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Addax_%28Addax_nasomaculatus%29_adult_male_and_juvenile.jpg)

## Appearance

The Addax Nasomaculatus has a pale, sandy-colored coat that lightens to white on its underparts. It features striking white facial markings, a shaggy brown mane, and long, slender, spiraling horns that can reach over 80 cm.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Artiodactyla
- **Family:** Bovidae
- **Genus:** Addax

## Interesting facts

- Addax are nicknamed "screwhorn antelopes" due to their distinctive twisted horns.
- The Addax is so rare; there are more in zoos than in the wild now.
- Their impressive spiral horns can grow over three feet long!
- They can raise their body temperature to avoid sweating and losing precious water.

## Special abilities

- **Desert Survivor:** Addax can endure extreme desert heat and drought because of their ability to conserve water and tolerate high body temperatures.
- **Sand Strider:** Addax has uniquely broad, flat hooves that prevent them from sinking, helping them walk efficiently across soft desert sands.
- **Seasonal Shader:** Addax can change its coat color from greyish-brown in winter to sandy-white in summer, providing camouflage and temperature regulation.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 95-115 cm
- **Weight:** 60-125 kg
- **Lifespan:** 15-20 years
- **Speed:** 50 km/h
- **Litter Size:** 1
- **Gestation:** 257-264 days

## Diet & Feeding

Addax eat tough desert plants, staying hydrated from the moisture in their food and even dew.

- **Primary Foods:** grasses, shrubs, acacia leaves, herbs
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** Lion (*Panthera leo*) — Main predator in their historical range.
- **Eaten by:** Cheetah (*Acinonyx jubatus*) — Hunts addax, especially juveniles.
- **Eaten by:** Golden Jackal (*Canis aureus*) — Can prey on addax calves.
- **Depends on:** Umbrella Thorn Acacia (*Acacia tortilis*) — Provides food and some shelter.

## Traits

- [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.
- [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.
- [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.

## Collections

- [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Addax Nasomaculatus?

Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How long is Addax Nasomaculatus?

95-115 cm

### How much does Addax Nasomaculatus weigh?

60-125 kg

### How long does Addax Nasomaculatus live?

15-20 years

### How fast can Addax Nasomaculatus move?

50 km/h

### What does Addax Nasomaculatus eat?

Addax eat tough desert plants, staying hydrated from the moisture in their food and even dew.

### Where is Addax Nasomaculatus usually found?

Addax live in the Sahara Desert and other arid regions.

### How does Addax Nasomaculatus hunt?

Foraging

## More Mammals

- [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*)
- [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*)
- [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*)
- [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*)

---

Source: [Addax Nasomaculatus: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/addax-nasomaculatus)