Spiral Horns
Both male and female addax grow long, ringed horns that twist into two or three open spirals — a rare trait among antelope, where horns are more often reserved for males alone. Male horns tend to be somewhat longer and thicker, reaching up to 43 inches, but the difference is subtle enough that sex can be hard to tell from horns alone.
Coat and Face Markings
An addax’s coat color shifts with the season: white to sandy-gray in winter, brownish-gray in summer. A distinctive white patch covers the face and a dark brown tuft of hair sits between the horns on the forehead, with a white band running down the nose.
Telling Addax Apart from Other Desert Antelope
The addax is often confused with the oryx, but its horns spiral rather than growing straight and long, and its build is stockier with shorter legs. Its knock-kneed stance and broad hooves are additional clues distinguishing it from its Saharan neighbors.
