Hippotragus niger niger

(Harris, 1838)

Vernacular names
English : Southern sable antelope
French : Hippotrague noir

Classification
Class : Mammalia
Order : Cetartiodactyla
Family : Bovidae
Notes : 4 other subspecies known.

Identification
Body length of 194 cm, shoulder height of 140 cm, weight of 230 kg. Males much bigger, darker and with longer horns. Long and thick curved and ridges horns. Erect mane. Coloration dark brown to black with white facial markings.

Range and habitat
The species occurs from DR Congo to Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi. Isolated population in central Angola. Subspecies found south of Zambezi river. Lives in open woodlands with grass understory.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not listed
Status : This species has declined because of overhunting but is now fairly safe as occurring in protected areas. Angolan subspecies highly endangered.
Ex-Situ Programs : SSP in America, ESB in Europe

Observation

 

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