"Black buck" redirects here. For other uses, see Blackbuck (disambiguation).
Blackbuck
Male and two females
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
CITES Appendix III (CITES)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Artiodactyla
Family:
Bovidae
Subfamily:
Antilopinae
Tribe:
Antilopini
Genus:
Antilope
Species:
A. cervicapra
Binomial name
Antilope cervicapra
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Subspecies
A. c. cervicapra (Linnaeus, 1758)
A. c. rajputanae Zukowsky, 1927
Synonyms
Cervicapra Sparrman, 1780
Antilope bezoartica Gray, 1850
Capra cervicapra Linnaeus, 1758
The blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), also known as the Indian antelope, is a medium-sized antelope native to India and Nepal. It inhabits grassy plains and lightly forested areas with perennial water sources.
It stands up to 74 to 84 cm (29 to 33 in) high at the shoulder. Males weigh 20–57 kg (44–126 lb), with an average of 38 kg (84 lb). Females are lighter, weighing 20–33 kg (44–73 lb) or 27 kg (60 lb) on average. Males have 35–75 cm (14–30 in) long corkscrew horns, and females occasionally develop horns, as well. The white fur on the chin and around the eyes is in sharp contrast with the black stripes on the face. Both sexes' coats feature a two-tone colouration; in males, the majority of the body is dark brown to black, with white circles around the eyes, white ears and tail, and the belly, lower jaw, and inner legs also white. Females and juveniles are yellowish-fawn to tan and display the same white areas, only with more of a beige tone than the males. Females also feature a more pronounced horizontal white side-stripe, starting around the shoulder and ending at the rump. The blackbuck is the sole living member of the genus Antilope and was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Two subspecies are recognized.
The blackbuck is active mainly during the day. It forms three types of small groups: female, male, and young bachelor herds. Males often adopt lekking as a strategy to garner females for mating. While other males are not allowed into these territories, females often visit these places to forage. The male can thus attempt mating with her. The blackbuck is an herbivore and grazes on low grasses, occasionally browsing as well. Females become sexually mature at the age of eight months, but mate no earlier than two years of age. Males mature later, at 1.5 years. Mating takes place throughout the year. Gestation is typically six months long, after which a single calf is born. The lifespan is typically 10 to 15 years.
The antelope is native to and occurs mainly in India, while it is locally extinct in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Formerly widespread, small and scattered herds are largely confined to protected areas today. During the 20th century, blackbuck numbers declined sharply due to excessive hunting, deforestation, and habitat destruction. The blackbuck has been introduced in Argentina, Australia and the United States, primarily on hunting ranches. In Argentina, the population is surviving well. In India, hunting of blackbuck is prohibited under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. The blackbuck has significance in Hinduism; Indian and Nepali villagers do not harm the antelope.
^ abIUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group (2017). "Antilope cervicapra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T1681A50181949. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T1681A50181949.en. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
The blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), also known as the Indian antelope, is a medium-sized antelope native to India and Nepal. It inhabits grassy plains...
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The Blackbuck Conservation Area is located in Gulariya, Bardiya District, Nepal and was established in 2009 to conserve the endangered blackbuck. This...
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genus of twisted-horn bovid that contains a single living species, the blackbuck of South Asia. Two extinct species are also known. Many fossil antelopes...
diverse fauna includes the great Indian bustard (Chirotis nigricaps), blackbuck, chinkara, fox, Bengal fox, wolf, and caracal. Seashells and massive fossilized...
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Arabian oryx and Dorcas gazelle. India is home to the nilgai, chinkara, blackbuck, Tibetan antelope, and four-horned antelope, while Russia and Central...
Tibetan goa and Mongolian gazelles (species of the genus Procapra), the blackbuck of Asia, and the African springbok. One widely familiar gazelle is the...
and dry grassland. This is the habitat of the great Indian bustard and blackbuck, though these and other animals are declining in numbers; this area was...
protected area of Tamil Nadu in South India created for the protection of blackbuck antelope. Located on an isolated hillock in Vallanadu Village of Srivaikundam...
animal by the people of Bishnoi community who are native to the place. The blackbuck deer are at risk of extirpation from the sanctuary due to predation by...
Indian wolves, honey badger, urial, chinkara gazelles and rare Sindh ibex. Blackbuck are kept in enclosures for a reintroduction project. Total species: 33...
Nagapattinam District. It was created in 1967 for the conservation of the blackbuck and also hosts large congregations of waterbirds, especially greater flamingos...
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