Oryx

Oryx is a genus consisting of four large antelope species. Three of them are native to arid parts of Africa, and the fourth to the Arabian Peninsula. Their fur is pale with contrasting dark markings in the face and on the legs, and their long horns are almost straight. The exception is the scimitar oryx, which lacks dark markings on the legs, only has faint dark markings on the head, has an ochre neck, and horns that are clearly decurved.

The Arabian oryx was only saved from extinction through a captive breeding program and reintroduction to the wild. The scimitar oryx, which is now listed as Extinct in the Wild, also relies on a captive breeding program for its survival. Small populations of several oryx species, such as the Scimitar Oryx, exist in Texas and New Mexico (USA) in wild game ranches. Gemsboks were released at the White Sands Missile Range and have become an invasive species of concern at the adjacent White Sands National Monument.

Etymology

The term "oryx" comes from the Greek word Ὂρυξ, óryx, for a type of antelope. The Greek plural form is óryges, although oryxes has been established in English. Herodotus mentions a type of gazelle in Libya called "Orus", probably related to the verb ¨oruttoo" or "orussoo", meaning "to dig". White oryxes are known to dig holes in the sand for the sake of coolness.

Oryx (journal)

Oryx is a peer-reviewed academic journal of conservation published quarterly by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Fauna & Flora International. The journal was established in 1904 as Journal of the Society for the Preservation of the Wild Fauna of the Empire, and is currently edited by Martin Fisher. The named changed to Journal of the Society for the Preservation of the Fauna of the Empire, and acquired its current name in 1950.

External links

Oryx (ancient city)

Oryx (Ancient Greek: Όρυξ), also Halus (Ancient Greek: Ἁλοῦς) was an ancient town in Arcadia, part of the district of Kleitor. It was situated on the river Ladon, between Nassoi and Thaliades. The location of the ancient city is believed to be in or near the present Ladon reservoir.

References

↑  Smith, William, ed. (1854). "Arcadia". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography 1. London: John Murray. p. 193. 

Unicorn

The unicorn is a legendary animal that has been described since antiquity as a beast with a large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead. The unicorn was depicted in ancient seals of the Indus Valley Civilization and was mentioned by the ancient Greeks in accounts of natural history by various writers, including Ctesias, Strabo, Pliny the Younger, and Aelian. The Bible also describes an animal, the re'em, which some translations have erroneously rendered with the word unicorn.

In European folklore, the unicorn is often depicted as a white horse-like or goat-like animal with a long horn and cloven hooves (sometimes a goat's beard). In the Middle Ages and Renaissance, it was commonly described as an extremely wild woodland creature, a symbol of purity and grace, which could only be captured by a virgin. In the encyclopedias its horn was said to have the power to render poisoned water potable and to heal sickness. In medieval and Renaissance times, the tusk of the narwhal was sometimes sold as unicorn horn.

Unicorn (Japanese band)

Unicorn (ユニコーン, Yunikōn) is a Japanese rock band, formed in 1986, consisting of Koichi Kawanishi (drums), Tamio Okuda (vocals, rhythm guitar), Isamu Teshima (lead guitar), Kazushi Horiuchi (bass guitar), and Yoshiharu Abe (keyboard, vocals). They reunited in 2009.

There was another band named Unicorn not to be confused with this one, who recorded albums for Transatlantic, Charisma and Harvest during the 1970s. They were a pop/folk/soft rock band.

Unicorn has also recorded the theme song for the Space Brothers anime for episodes 01-13, titled "Feel So Moon".

Members

Unicorn (Basement Jaxx song)

"Unicorn" is a song by British house music duo Basement Jaxx. With vocals provided by Yzabel.

Composition

"Unicorn" is a UK garage and house track. Female vocals insisting you “jump in,” because there’s a “good vibration,” and “it’s gonna be off the hook.” It was written by the duo with Niara Arain Scarlett and published by Universal Music Group. http://www.metrolyrics.com/unicorn-lyrics-basement-jaxx.html

"Unicorn, Basement Jaxx | Blog | Dots & Dashes". dotsanddashes.co.uk. Retrieved November 25, 2015. 

Critical reception

Allmusic's Heather Phares chose the song as one of her track picks from Junto, she compared the song to their past works: "The stark, kinetic single "Unicorn" sounds as fresh and timeless as anything off of Remedy, and at its best, Junto comes off as the missing link between that album's relentless rhythms and Rooty's kaleidoscopic pop."

Marc Hogan of Spin described the track as a "jubilantly pulsating house track" and claimed: "The “cosmic situation,” as “Unicorn” puts it, has just improved." Another writer from Spin, Colin Stutz called the song a "dance-floor-pleasing" and also a "welcome return" after non-album tracks like "Back 2 the Wild", “What a Difference Your Love Makes” and "Mermaid of Salinas."