The sable antelope (or Hippotragus niger) is a species of ungulate that lives in South-Eastern Africa. They have long, notched horns that curve backwards from their face, a tan-to-black coat with a white underbelly, chin and throat, as well as white tear-marks on their face. Males are larger, darker and have longer horns than females. Both sexes graze and browse on the savannah, preferring lightly wooded areas to completely open ones.
Latin Name
Hippotragus niger
Featured
false
Slug
sable-antelope
Site
Thumbnail
Image
Conservation Status
Animal Category
Region
Animal Facts
The females have strong hierarchies within their herd, with the alpha female being the strongest, healthiest individual. They are also hostile towards new female group members.
In the wild, sable antelope chew bones to gain minerals from them.
Sable antelope get darker as they get older. The darkness of the coat often indicates seniority of group members, with alpha females and males being dark brown to black in colour.
Young males will often play fight as practice and older males will challenge each other by butting heads and pushing each other with their horns, but fights rarely become violent.
Sable antelopes do not flee from predators but stand their ground, often attacking with their horns. They have been known to kill lions.