Types of African Antelope Oryx

Worldwide, three species of oryx antelope exist, two of which are found in Africa and a third that lives in Arabia. Of the two African species, one has three subspecies which differ slightly in appearance and home range. The oryx is a member of the Bovidae family which also contains domestic farm animals such as cattle, goats and sheep.

  1. Scimitar-Horned Oryx

    • The scimitar-horned oryx is a large antelope species. It grows to over 4 feet at the shoulder, 7 1/2 feet in length and weighs up to 460 lbs. The animal is mostly white in color with reddish-brown on the neck and parts of the face. It has two long, curved horns on the top of its head. The oryx used to range through Egypt, Senegal and Chad but, as of May 2011, is listed as extinct in the wild. A reintroduction program is in operation in Tunisia to release captive-born animals.

    East African Oryx

    • The East African oryx is slightly smaller than the scimitar oryx. It grows to 4 feet at the shoulder, just under 7 feet in length and weighs up to 440 lbs. It has a gray-brown coat with a white stomach and black markings on the face, sides and knees. It has long straight horns on the top of its head which grow to around 4 feet in length. The oryx lives in the open grassland, desert and brushland of east Africa.

    Gemsbok

    • The gemsbok, or South African oryx, is a subspecies of the East African variety. It grows to over 4 feet at the shoulder, over 6 feet in length and weighs up to 528 lbs. It has a gray-brown coat with a white stomach and black stripes on the legs, face and sides of the stomach. The species lives in southeastern Africa in high wooded grasslands as well as more arid desert habitats. Like all oryx species, it is fully herbivorous.

    Fringe-Eared Oryx

    • The fringe-eared oryx is the third subspecies of Eastern oryx. It grows to over 4 feet at the shoulder, just under 6 feet in length and weighs up to 461 lbs. Like the other two subspecies, it has long, straight horns on the top of the head that grow to around 4 feet in length. It has similar coloring and patterns to the other subspecies. It lives in a small range that includes Tanzania and southern Kenya.