Gemsbok

This article is about the African antelope. For the European goat-antelope called "gemsbok" in Dutch, see Chamois.
Gemsbok
Gemsbok (Oryx gazella) near Etosha National Park.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Hippotraginae
Genus: Oryx
Species: O. gazella
Binomial name
Oryx gazella
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Gemsbok's natural range.[2]

The gemsbok or gemsbuck (Oryx gazella) is a large antelope in the Oryx genus. It is native to the arid regions of Southern Africa, such as the Kalahari Desert. Some authorities formerly included the East African oryx as a subspecies.

The gemsbok is depicted on the coat of arms of Namibia,[3] where the current population of the species is estimated at 373,000 individuals.[1]

Name

A three-day-old gemsbok fawn

The name "gemsbok" in English is derived from Afrikaans gemsbok, which itself is derived from the Dutch name of the male chamois, gemsbok. Although some superficial similarities in appearance (especially in the facial pattern) are noticed, the chamois and the oryx are not closely related. The usual pronunciation in English is /ˈɡɛmzbɒk/.[4]

Description

Gemsbok, male (Oryx gazella) and its surrounding in Etosha National Park, Namibia.

Gemsbok are light brownish-grey to tan in colour, with lighter patches toward the bottom rear of the rump. Their tails are long and black in colour. A blackish stripe extends from the chin down the lower edge of the neck, through the juncture of the shoulder and leg along the lower flank of each side to the blackish section of the rear leg. They have muscular necks and shoulders, and their legs have white 'socks' with a black patch on the front of both the front legs, and both genders have long, straight horns. Comparably, the East African oryx lacks a dark patch at the base of the tail, has less black on the legs (none on the hindlegs), and less black on the lower flanks. One very rare condition is the "Golden Oryx", in which the Gemsboks black markings are muted and now appear golden.

Gemsbok are the largest species in the Oryx genus. They stand about 1.2 m (3.9 ft) at the shoulder.[5][6] The body length can vary from 190 to 240 cm (75 to 94 in) and the tail measures 45 to 90 cm (18 to 35 in).[7][8] Male gemsbok can weigh between 180 and 240 kg (400 and 530 lb), while females weigh 100–210 kg (220–460 lb).

Horns

Gemsbok portrait in Etosha National Park, Namibia.

Gemsbok are widely hunted for their spectacular horns that average 85 cm (33 in) in length. From a distance, the only outward difference between males and females is their horns, and many hunters mistake females for males each year. In males horns tend to be thicker with larger bases. Females have slightly longer, thinner horns.

Female gemsbok use their horns to defend themselves and their offspring from predators, while males primarily use their horns to defend their territories from other males.[9]

Gemsbok are one of the few antelope species where female trophies are sometimes more desirable than male ones. A gemsbok horn can be fashioned into a natural trumpet and, according to some authorities, can be used as a shofar.[10]

A drinking gemsbok with a group of helmeted guineafowl in the foreground

Behaviour

Gemsbok live in herds of about 10–40 animals, which consist of a dominant male, a few nondominant males, and females. They are mainly desert-dwelling and do not depend on drinking water to supply their physiological needs. They can reach running speeds of up to 60 km/h (37 mph).

Introduction to North America

In 1969, the New Mexico State Department of Game and Fish decided to introduce gemsbok to the Tularosa Basin in the United States. The introduction was a compromise between those who wanted to preserve nature and those who wanted to use it for profit and promotion.[11] Ninety-three were released from 1969 to 1977, with the current population estimated to be around 3,000 specimens. They thrived because their natural predators, including the lion, are not present.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group (2008). "Oryx gazella". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2008. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 13 November 2008.Database entry includes justification for why this species is listed as Least concern.
  2. ↑ IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) 2008. Oryx gazella. In: IUCN 2015. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2. http://www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 14 July 2015.
  3. ↑ "National Symbols". gov.na. Government of Namibia. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
  4. ↑ Dictionary.com: "Gemsbok". Dictionary.reference.com. Retrieved on 2013-10-10.
  5. ↑ Oryx Gemsbok. Zoo la Boissière-du-Doré
  6. ↑ Oryx gemsbok – Fiche détaillée – Les mammifères. Tous vos animaux. Retrieved on 2013-10-10.
  7. ↑ Gemsbok videos, photos and facts – Oryx gazella. ARKive. Retrieved on 2013-10-10.
  8. ↑ Burnie D and Wilson DE (Eds.), Animal: The Definitive Visual Guide to the World's Wildlife. DK Adult (2005), ISBN 0789477645
  9. ↑ Matign System. bio.davidson.edu
  10. ↑ Hearing Shofar: Making a Gemsbok Shofar. Hearingshofar.blogspot.com (2010-01-01). Retrieved on 2013-10-10.
  11. ↑ CHAPTER SIX: A BRAVE NEW WORLD: WHITE SANDS AND THE CLOSE OF THE 20th CENTURY, 1970–1994. US National Park Service. Retrieved on 2013-10-10.
  12. ↑ Exotic Animal Management (African Oryx). US National Park Service. Retrieved on 2013-10-10.
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