Arabian Oryx

The Arabian Oryx or white oryx (Oryx leucoryx) is a medium-sized antelope with a distinct shoulder bump, long, straight horns, and a tufted tail. Due to their speed and stamina, Arabian oryxes prefer to roam in areas of gravel or hard sand, where they are safe from the majority of predators and most foot hunters. They were once common in the flat parts of Saudi Arabia's sand deserts between the softer dunes and ridges.

The Arabian oryx eats a wide variety of plant material, including buds, herbs, fruit, tubers, and roots, although their primary feeds are grasses. After occasional rains, herds of Arabian oryxes graze on the newly sprung plants. They can go without water for several weeks. The Arabian oryx creates tiny depressions in the soft ground beneath bushes or trees for resting when it isn't exploring its surroundings or feeding. They can sense rain from a distance and move in the direction of newly emerging plant growth. A herd typically has 10 or fewer members, though this number can fluctuate widely (up to 100 have occasionally been documented).