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Arabian Oryx Physiology

The areas of the Middle east where the Arabian oryx inhabit, there are different times of the year in which the physiology and behavior of the animal change in order to give the species the best chance of survival during times when food and water are in limited supply. During the summer, when droughts are prevalent throughout the area, Arabian oryx will drastically reduce their energy expenditure and minimal fasting metabolic rate by lying completely inactive beneath shade trees during the day, directing body heat away to reduce dependence on evaporative cooling to maintain body temperature, and range over smaller areas at night to forage 1. During these behavior changes, it was shown that Arabian oryx reduce their urine volume, fecal water loss, and resting metabolic rate by at least 50 percent 2, which proves just how efficient these animals are at surviving in times when water and food are scarce.

1.    Williams, J. B., Ostrowski, S., Bedin, E., & Ismail, K. (2001). Seasonal variation in energy expenditure, water flux and food consumption of Arabian oryx Oryx leucoryx. Journal of Experimental Biology, 204(13), 2301-2311.

2.    Ostrowski, S., Williams, J.B., Mésochina, P. et al. Physiological acclimation of a desert antelope, Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx), to long-term food and water restriction. J Comp Physiol B 176, 191–201 (2006).