Hobbies And Interests
Coat
The addax's coat color changes with the season. During the summer, the coat turns almost white or sandy beige to protect it from the desert sun. The light color reflects heat and regulates body temperature. During the winter, the coat turns grayish-brown to absorb heat. There are white markings on the hind quarters and legs, and a tuft of brown hair on the forehead under the horns, with a white chevron cross on the nose. The long tail has a tuft of black hair on its tip.
Diet
As an herbivore, the addax eats coarse grasses, leaves and succulents. It meets its water needs from the sap of vegetation and dew. The addax requires very little water and can go almost its entire life without a drink. When vegetation is scarce, the addax lives off the stored water in its body fat.
Gait
The addax's wide, flat hooves help it walk on loose sand. Its short legs keep it steady, even when the sand shifts underfoot. The addax has an unusual, almost comical, gait. When it walks, it throws its feet out to the side, taking care not to brush up against the opposite limb, placing one foot behind the other. It leaves a single line of tracks behind it. The slowest runner in the antelope family, it runs with a stiff-kneed gallop.
Nomads
Nomadic animals, addaxes rarely settle down in one place for long. Because of the scarcity of food and water, they are constantly on the move. Addaxes are nocturnal, traveling at night and sleeping during the day. Before settling down, they dig deep depressions in the sand to shelter them from the sun and wind. Herds of five to 20 animals travel long distances following the rains. Rarely do they live alone. In those situations, the addax has over-developed sensory skills that allow it to detect and find others even across vast distances.