Mammals · Artiodactyla · Bovidae

Sable Antelope

Hippotragus niger

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It is the national animal of Zimbabwe and one of the most magnificent antelopes in Africa, with jet-black males and chestnut females that defend themselves fiercely against predators with their long curved horns.

Weight

190 kg – 270 kg

Size

1.2 m – 1.4 m

Lifespan

17 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Herd

Lives in large groups as a strategy against predators.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

SavannaHerbivore Diurnal In herds Savanna Mammal

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Fun facts

It is the national animal of Zimbabwe.
It can kill even lions that attack it, using its long horns like sabres.
The giant sable subspecies of Angola survived decades of civil war as a national symbol.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Miombo woodland savannah and grassland of the southern savannah belt in eastern and southern Africa
Birth weight: 15 - 16.4 kg
Size at birth: Precocial, hidden in dense vegetation for at least its first 10 days
Sexual maturity: 2-3 years (both sexes)
Gestation / incubation: 268-271 days (~9 months)
Litter / clutch size: 1 young per birth
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of 22.2 years in captivity

Sources consulted: AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Africa Mammals Guide; SeaWorld; African Wildlife Foundation; Ultimate Ungulate; Animal Diversity Web; Animalia.bio; Bright's Zoo