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Desert-Ready Mammal?
Question by Ethan Gelber

The Question:

Variety is the spice of life. And the variety of animal species out there making life so spicy never ceases to be baffling. We recently ran across a four-legged mammal unusually well adapted to the extremely harsh conditions of the desert. Capable of surviving almost indefinitely without drinking, perfectly at ease in regular temperatures of 100:F and hotter, native to the dry savanna of southern Africa, this beast one betters the beastliest conditions imaginable.

What is this mammal?

The Answer:

The oryx antelope, or gemsbok, makes its home in the sere savanna of southern Africa. Like many of the animals sharing the wide-open spaces of this punishing habitat, the oryx is specially adapted to its environment.

Unlike most mammals, the oryx can actually raise its own body temperature to match the typical increases in heat, frequently greater than 40:C (104:F). This increase in body temperature also reduces the loss in body fluids through perspiration. It is capable of living enormously long periods without water, usually ingested as moisture found in small quantities on desert grass.

The oryx is best known for its long rapier-like horns.

The Winners:

OK, we admit that the question was vaguely worded. But that was part of the trick. The limiting factor here was that this mammal is typically found in southern Africa. Many of you guessed that we were asking about the camel, the most famous of desert-ready mammals. But camels are not found in southern Africa, nor are kangaroo rats, native to the desert regions of North America. And while the aardvark is regionally appropriate, it is definitely not as capable of desert survival as the oryx. Other guesses included armadillo, wildebeest, rhinoceros, giraffe, and . . . hamster.

Our winners this week are: Brian Palmer (who also correctly identified springbok and hartebeest as local lovers of the arid sweeps) and Mary McLain (who also mentioned the warthog). Richard Hill gets a mention for his thoughts about the gazelle.

THANKS for your contributions!