To survive in the arid and scorching deserts of Saudi Arabia, the antelope has adopted a remarkable strategy: it shrinks the size of its heart and liver, two organs that require a lot of oxygen, to conserve respiration during the driest months.
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(Photo: TN) |
According to researcher Stephane Otrowski from the National Center for Wildlife Research in Saudi Arabia, this adaptation helps the antelope reduce water loss through respiration.
Researchers noted that this species of antelope has the lowest water evaporation rate ever recorded among hoofed animals living in arid regions. While the reduction in size of the heart and liver is significant, the stomach of the antelope remains relatively unchanged as they absorb water through the consumption of various plants.
Scientists Otrowski, Mesochina, and Williams also discovered that during the months when water and food sources are most depleted, desert antelopes store more fat in their brains. This adaptation ensures that brain metabolism remains unaffected.
These findings were published in the journal Physiological and Biochemical Zoology.
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