Scimitar Oryx - Adaptations

Adaptations

With functioning metabolism at these high temperatures, less water is needed for evaporation to help conduct heat away from the body. This reduced evaporation of bodily fluids helps these oryx go long periods without water. They can also modify their body temperatures to almost 46.5°C before beginning perspiration. In times of ample supply, oryx can also use fluid loss, through urination and feces, to lower their body temperatures below 97°F (36°C) at night, thus allowing them more time before maximum body temperature is reached the following day. The oryx can tolerate high temperatures that would be lethal to most mammals. They have a network of fine blood vessels that carries blood from the heart to the brain. These blood vessels travel close to the nasal passage, allowing cooling of up to 5F° of the blood before it is pumped to the brain, one of the most heat-sensitive organs of the body.