Gemsbok

The gemsbok, gemsbuck or South African oryx (Oryx gazella) is a large antelope in the genus Oryx. 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, where the current population of the species is estimated at 373,000 individuals.
==Name==
The name "gemsbok" in English is derived from Afrikaans gemsbok, which itself is derived from Dutch name of the male chamois, gemsbok,"Gemsbok, n." Dictionary of South African English. Dictionary Unit for South African English, 2018. 25 February 2019. and further from German Gämse ("chamois"). 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 .Dictionary.com: "Gemsbok". Dictionary.reference.com. Retrieved on 2013-10-10. 
==Description==
Gemsbok is light taupe to tan in color, with lighter patches toward the bottom rear of the rump. Their tails are long and black in color. 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 color morph is the "golden oryx", in which the gemsbok's black markings are muted and appear to be golden.
Gemsbok are the largest species in the genus Oryx. They stand about at the shoulder.Oryx Gemsbok. Zoo la Boissière-du-DoréOryx gemsbok – Fiche détaillée – Les mammifères. Tous vos animaux. Retrieved on 2013-10-10. The body length can vary from and the tail measures .Gemsbok videos, photos and facts – Oryx gazella . ARKive. Retrieved on 2013-10-10. Male gemsbok can weigh between , while females weigh .
===Horns===
Gemsbok are widely hunted for their spectacular horns that average 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.Matign System. bio.davidson.edu
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.Hearing Shofar: Making a Gemsbok Shofar. Hearingshofar.blogspot.com (2010-01-01). Retrieved on 2013-10-10.
==Ecology and biology==
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 .
===Diet===
The gemsbok is generally a grazer but changes to browsing during the dry season or when grass is sparse. It may dig up to a meter deep to find roots and tubers, supplementing its water intake by eating wild tsama melons and cucumbers, which can provide all the water required (3 liters per 100 kg bodyweight and day).
===Reproduction===
thumb|left|Three-day-old fawn
The gemsbok is polygynous, with one resident male mating with the receptive females in the herd. The male is known to secure exclusive mating access to the females by attempting to herd mixed or nursery herds onto his territory. The gemsbok has no specified breeding season, but the young in a given herd tend to be of a similar age due to reproductive synchrony between females. Pregnant females leave the herd before giving birth. The gestation period lasts 270 days and mothers give birth to 1-2 offspring. The calf remains hidden 6 weeks after birth, after which mother and calf rejoin the herd. The calf is weaned at 3.5 months, becomes independent at 4.5 month, and achieves sexual maturity at 1.5–2 years in both sexes.
==Introduction to North America==
In 1969, the New Mexico State Department of Game and Fish decided to introduce gemsbok to the Tularosa Basin, New Mexico, in the United States.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. Ninety-three were released from 1969 to 1977, with the current population estimated to be around 3,000 specimens.L.C. Bender, P.C. Morrow, M.A. Weisenberger, B. Kruger (2019) Population dynamics and control of exotic South African oryx in the Chihuahuan Desert, south-central New Mexico. Human–Wildlife Interactions 13(1):158–166, Spring 2019. digitalcommons.usu.edu/hwi As they are capable of year-round breeding, the transplanted population thrives in the absence of their natural predators, such as the lion (Panthera leo), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and leopard (Panthera pardus). Except for calves, the oryx is too large to be preyed on by the cougar (Puma concolor) and other American desert carnivores, since the jaguar (Panthera onca) is extirpated from the state, and the reintroduced Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) is too low in population numbers. The species is therefore primarily managed by regulated hunting.Exotic Animal Management (African Oryx). US National Park Service. Retrieved on 2013-10-10.San Andres NWR Oryx Population Reduction webpage Gradually expanding their range from Tularosa Basin towards the west and northwest, an unknown number of animals are now also established in the San Andres National Wildlife Refuge, the Jornada Biosphere Reserve as well as the endorheic drainage basins east of Caballo Mountains, especially where these are traversed by the Jornada del Muerto trail north of Upham.
==References==
==External links==
*Animal Diversity Web's article on the gemsbok
Category:Oryx
Category:Mammals of South Africa
Category:Mammals of Botswana
Category:Mammals of Namibia
Category:Mammals of Zimbabwe
Category:Mammals of Southern Africa
Category:Herbivorous mammals
Category:Mammals described in 1758
Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus