The scimitar oryx has a long taxonomic history since its scientific description in 1816 by Lorenz Oken, who named it "Oryx algazel". This antelope stands a little more than at the shoulder. The males weigh and the females weigh . The coat is white with a red-brown chest and black markings on the forehead and down the length of the nose. The calves are born with a yellow coat without distinguishing marks; their coats change to adult coloration at 3–12 months old.