# Blackbuck (*Antilope cervicapra*)

> The blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) is a spirally horned antelope of Indian and Nepalese grasslands; males turn dark brown-black with white underparts. Adults weigh about 40 kg, run near 80 km/h, and recovered from hunting lows to Least Concern in India — with introduced herds in Texas and Argentina.

- **Category:** Mammal
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Grasslands of India and Nepal; introduced herds in Texas and Argentina.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/blackbuck/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Artiodactyla
- **Family:** Bovidae
- **Genus:** Antilope

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Antilope cervicapra |
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Habitat | Open plains and scrub |
| Lifespan | Around 12 years in the wild (varies by population and captivity). |
| Weight | About 40 kg typical adult mass (sex and region vary). |
| Top speed | Up to roughly 80 km/h when moving at speed. |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Spiral horns and colour change

Males darken with age and carry elegant V-shaped spiral horns; females remain fawn-coloured and hornless. Pointed snouts and white eye rings give a distinctive face.

## Grazer of short grass

Diet is primarily grasses on open plains, with some browse. They need clear sightlines to spot wolves, jackals, and feral dogs. Across its range it is tied to open plains and scrub, and field accounts emphasise this species’ distinctive ecology rather than generic habitat labels.

## India–Nepal plains — plus exotics abroad

Grasslands of India and Nepal; introduced herds live in Texas and Argentina on ranchland. Across its range it is tied to open plains and scrub, and field accounts emphasise this species’ distinctive ecology rather than generic habitat labels.

## Temple protection and legal recovery

Once heavily hunted, blackbucks rebounded under legal protection and are Least Concern in much of India, though local poaching and grassland loss persist.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why do male blackbucks look black?

Sexual dichromatism — mature males darken dramatically compared with tawny females.

### How fast can a blackbuck run?

Sprints approach roughly 80 km/h on open ground.

### Do female blackbucks have horns?

No — spiral horns are a male feature for the blackbuck.

### Are blackbucks endangered?

They are Least Concern overall after recovery in India, though some local populations remain pressured.

### Where do blackbucks live?

Grasslands of India and Nepal, plus introduced herds in Texas and Argentina.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/blackbuck/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.