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Nomads of the Sahara, Addax are well adapted for the dessert region they live in. They can go without water, receiving much of the moisture they need from the plants they eat. While their coat turns white during the summer to help reflect the sun, they are still most active during the night when it is cooler. They have large, flexible hooves that splay out to help distribute their weight when walking through sand.
Addax herds in the past would typically consist of 5-20 individuals, led by one dominant male. Female herd members establish their own dominance hierarchy, with the oldest individuals achieving the highest rank. It should be noted that this group structure is not as standard anymore due to their near extinction in the wild. Most addax now travel in small clusters of only a few individuals.
Their slow movement make them susceptible to hunting and there are now 500 or less addax in the wild due to overhunting, drought, and loss of habitat. Reintroduction programs are ongoing in an effort to increase their numbers.
