The orx species thrives in sand and gravel desert plains, as well as low sand dunes, and they are social animals. During summer, they rest in daytime shade and feed at night, while in winter, their rest and feeding times shift to daytime and nighttime respectively. Their diet encompasses a wide range of vegetation such as trees, buds, herbs, fruit, tubers, and roots, and they obtain all necessary water from their diet. Remarkably adapted to arid conditions, they can endure up to 6 months without drinking water. With an ability to detect distant rainfall, they can move up to 50 km in a single night to access better grazing areas. Typically, they give birth to a single calf after a gestation period of 8 to 9 months.

Sand dune ecosystem: The crescent-shaped sand dunes are considered one of the prominent features of the terrestrial environment of the State of Qatar.In southern Qatar, huge sand dunes rise from the desert plain. These dunes are shaped by the wind and are constantly shifting. In certain conditions, the movement of sand grains creates a low humming sound. The dunes near Mesai’eed are one of the few places on Earth where this phenomenon of ‘singing’ sand dunes can be heard. The plants and animals that survive in the intense heat and unstable sands of the dunes are supremely well adapted to the challenging conditions.

Wittmer, W., Büttiker, W., & Krupp, F. (1979). Fauna of Arabia (Vol. 6, Issue 3 of Fauna publication). Pro Entomologia c/o Natural History Museum