Giant sable antelope

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Giant sable antelope
Giant Sable Antelope (22018702922).jpg
Stuffed specimens at the American Natural History Museum, New York City
CITES Appendix I (CITES) [2]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Hippotraginae
Genus: Hippotragus
Species:
Subspecies:
H. n. variani
Trinomial name
Hippotragus niger variani
Thomas, 1916
Hippotragus niger variani distribution.svg
Geographic range

The giant sable antelope (Hippotragus niger variani), also known in Portuguese as the palanca negra gigante, is a large, rare subspecies of the sable antelope native and endemic to the central highlands of Angola, occurring specifically in two areas: Cangandala National Park (south of the city of Malanje) and Luando Natural Strict Reserve (between the Kwanza and Luando Rivers, south of Cangandala).

Contents

It was first described in 1916 by Frank Varian, a British engineer and naturalist, as a new subspecies of sable antelope distinguished by its size, horn structure and length, and unique facial markings. At the time, Varian worked on the construction of Angola’s Benguela Railway, which connected the inland mining areas with the Atlantic coast. His work in the remote highlands brought him into contact with some of the country’s unique wildlife, leading to his discovery of the giant sable, which he subsequently documented and brought to scientific attention. The giant sable was the last of the large antelopes to be discovered, with its discovery occurring after that of the Okapi.

There was a great degree of uncertainty regarding the number of animals that survived during the Angolan Civil War. In January 2004, a group from the Centro de Estudos e Investigação Científica of the Catholic University of Angola, led by Dr. Pedro Vaz Pinto, was able to obtain photographic evidence of one of the remaining herds from a series of trap cameras installed in the Cangandala National Park, south of Malanje.

The giant sable antelope is the national symbol of Angola, and is held in a great regard by its people. This was perhaps one of the reasons the animals survived the long civil war. In African mythology, just like other antelopes, they symbolize vivacity, velocity, beauty and visual sharpness.

The giant sable antelope is evaluated as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. As of 2021 they reportedly only have a population of 300, 100 of which are living in Cangandala National Park. [3]

Description

Young giant sable bull in Cangandala (Marcus Frazao) Giant Sable Bull.png
Young giant sable bull in Cangandala (Marcus Frazão)

Both sexes have horns, which for the male can reach 65 inches (1.65 meters in length). Males and females are very similar in appearance until they reach three years of age, when the males become darker and develop majestic horns. The males weigh an average of 238 kg (525 lb) with a height of 116–142 cm (46–56 in). Females weigh 220 kg and are slightly shorter than males. The horns are massive and more curved in males, reaching lengths of 81–165 cm (32–65 in), while females' horns are only 61–102 cm (24–40 in) in length. Coloration in bulls is black, while cows and calves are chestnut, except in southern populations where females turn brownish-black. Most sable antelopes have white "eyebrows", their rostra are sectioned into cheek stripes, and their bellies and rump patches are white. Young under two months old typically are light brown and have slight markings.

The largest giant sable antelope horns recorded to date measured 65 inches long. The animal was shot by the Count of Yebes in Angola in 1949 and became the world record. [4]

Ecology and behavior

Like all antelopes, giant sables are shy by nature, but they can also be very aggressive. The males can be especially dangerous when hurt, attacked, or approached. In fights, males avoid some serious injuries by kneeling down on their front legs, and engage in horn-wrestling fights. Fatalities from these fights are rare.

Juveniles are hunted by leopards and hyenas, while adults are only threatened by lions and crocodiles. [5] When startled, the antelope normally runs for only a short distance before slowing and looking back; however, when they are pursued, they can run at speeds up to 35 mph for a considerable distance. [5]

Evolution

Mitochondrial DNA evidence from a specimen preserved in the Museu da Ciência da Universidade de Coimbra before the Angolan Civil War suggest that the giant sable is monophyletic within the sable antelope group, and that it split from the other three sable antelope subspecies around 170,000 years ago. [6]

Habitat

The giant sable antelope lives in forests near water, where leaves and tree sprouts are always juicy and abundant. It is a critically endangered subspecies; it is protected in natural parks and hunting it is forbidden. Typically, giant sable antelopes are specialized browsers feeding on foliage and herbs, especially those growing on termite mounds. One of the reasons for the decline in giant sable antelope numbers could be the animals' very specific feeding patterns. Typically, they will feed on tree leaves, which make up to 90% of their diets, at heights of 40–140 mm (1.6–5.5 in) from the ground, taking only the leaves.

Relationship with humans

The giant sable antelope is a national symbol of Angola and is portrayed on numerous stamps, banknotes, and even passports of the nation. [5] The Angola national football team is fondly known as the Palancas Negras in honor of this antelope. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antelope</span> Term referring to an even-toed ruminant

The term antelope refers to numerous extant or recently extinct species of the ruminant artiodactyl family Bovidae that are indigenous to most of Africa, India, the Middle East, Central Asia, and a small area of Eastern Europe. Antelopes do not form a monophyletic group, as some antelopes are more closely related to other bovid groups, like bovines, goats, and sheep, than to other antelopes.

<i>Oryx</i> Genus of mammals (large antelopes)

Oryx is a genus consisting of four large antelope species called oryxes. Their pelage is pale with contrasting dark markings in the face and on the legs, and their long horns are almost straight. The exception is the scimitar oryx, which lacks dark markings on the legs, only has faint dark markings on the head, has an ochre neck, and has horns that are clearly decurved.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malanje Province</span> Province of Angola

Malanje is a province of Angola. It has an area of 97,602 km2 and a 2014 census population of 986,363. Malanje is the provincial capital.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater kudu</span> Species of woodland antelope

The greater kudu is a large woodland antelope, found throughout eastern and southern Africa. Despite occupying such widespread territory, they are sparsely populated in most areas due to declining habitat, deforestation, and poaching. The greater kudu is one of two species commonly known as kudu, the other being the lesser kudu, T. imberbis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant eland</span> Species of bovine mammal

The giant eland, also known as the Lord Derby's eland and greater eland, is an open-forest and savanna antelope. A species of the family Bovidae and genus Taurotragus, it was described in 1847 by John Edward Gray. The giant eland is the largest species of antelope, with a body length ranging from 220–290 cm (7.2–9.5 ft). There are two subspecies: T. d. derbianus and T. d. gigas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roan antelope</span> Species of mammal

The roan antelope is a large, savanna-dwelling antelope found in Western, Southern, and parts of Central and Eastern Africa. Named for its roan colour, it has a lighter-toned underbelly and a (mostly) white face and snout, but with a black "mask" around the eyes and on the bridge of the snout, being somewhat lighter in females. Additionally, a pair of formidable, recurved horns are present on the heads of both males and females, albeit larger on the males, growing up to 100 cm long. Males and females have short, erect, mohawk-like manes running down their back and very light, shaggy neckbeards, both of which are more pronounced in males. Both mane and neckbeard are tinted with darker tips, which run the length of the animal's back and belly, ending in a dark-coloured tail. The ears are long, erect, and donkey-like.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sable antelope</span> Species of mammal

The sable antelope is a large antelope which inhabits wooded savanna in East and Southern Africa, from the south of Kenya to South Africa, with a separated population in Angola.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hartebeest</span> Grassland antelope

The hartebeest, also known as kongoni or kaama, is an African antelope. It is the only member of the genus Alcelaphus. Eight subspecies have been described, including two sometimes considered to be independent species. A large antelope, the hartebeest stands just over 1 m at the shoulder, and has a typical head-and-body length of 200 to 250 cm. The weight ranges from 100 to 200 kg. It has a particularly elongated forehead and oddly-shaped horns, a short neck, and pointed ears. Its legs, which often have black markings, are unusually long. The coat is generally short and shiny. Coat colour varies by the subspecies, from the sandy brown of the western hartebeest to the chocolate brown of the Swayne's hartebeest. Both sexes of all subspecies have horns, with those of females being more slender. Horns can reach lengths of 45–70 cm (18–28 in). Apart from its long face, the large chest and the sharply sloping back differentiate the hartebeest from other antelopes. A conspicuous hump over the shoulders is due to the long dorsal processes of the vertebrae in this region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bluebuck</span> Extinct species of South African antelope

The bluebuck or blue antelope is an extinct species of antelope that lived in South Africa until around 1800. It was smaller than the other two species in its genus Hippotragus, the roan antelope and sable antelope. The bluebuck was sometimes considered a subspecies of the roan antelope, but a genetic study has confirmed it as a distinct species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bohor reedbuck</span> Species of mammal

The bohor reedbuck is an antelope native to central Africa. The animal is placed under the genus Redunca and in the family Bovidae. It was first described by German zoologist and botanist Peter Simon Pallas in 1767. The bohor reedbuck has five subspecies. The head-and-body length of this medium-sized antelope is typically between 100–135 cm (39–53 in). Males reach approximately 75–89 cm (30–35 in) at the shoulder, while females reach 69–76 cm (27–30 in). Males typically weigh 43–65 kg (95–143 lb) and females 35–45 kg (77–99 lb). This sturdily built antelope has a yellow to grayish brown coat. Only the males possess horns which measure about 25–35 cm (9.8–13.8 in) long.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oribi</span> Species of mammal

The oribi is a small antelope found in eastern, southern and western Africa. The sole member of its genus, it was described by the German zoologist Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zimmermann in 1783. While this is the only member in the genus Ourebia, eight subspecies are identified. The oribi reaches nearly 50–67 centimetres (20–26 in) at the shoulder and weighs 12–22 kilograms (26–49 lb). It possesses a slightly raised back, and long neck and limbs. The glossy, yellowish to rufous brown coat contrasts with the white chin, throat, underparts and rump. Only males possess horns; the thin, straight horns, 8–18 centimetres (3.1–7.1 in) long, are smooth at the tips and ringed at the base.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common duiker</span> Species of mammal

The common duiker, also known as the gray duiker or bush duiker, is a small antelope and the only member of the genus Sylvicapra. This species is found everywhere in Africa south of the Sahara, excluding the Horn of Africa and the rainforests of the central and western parts of the continent. Generally, they are found in habitats with sufficient vegetation cover to allow them to hide—savannah and hilly areas, including the fringes of human settlements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dama gazelle</span> Species of mammal

The dama gazelle, also known as the addra gazelle or mhorr gazelle, is a species of gazelle. It lives in Africa, in the Sahara desert and the Sahel. A critically endangered species, it has disappeared from most of its former range due to overhunting and habitat loss, and natural populations only remain in Chad, Mali, and Niger. Its habitat includes grassland, shrubland, semi-deserts, open savanna and mountain plateaus. Its diet includes shrubs, herbs, grasses, leaves, shoots, and fruit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mountain reedbuck</span> Species of mammal

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red-fronted gazelle</span> Species of mammal

The red-fronted gazelle is widely but unevenly distributed gazelle across the middle of Africa from Senegal to northeastern Ethiopia. It is mainly resident in the Sahel zone, a narrow cross-Africa band south of the Sahara, where it prefers arid grasslands, wooded savannas and shrubby steppes.

Cangandala National Park is a national park in Malanje Province, Angola. It is situated between the Cuije river and 2 unnamed territories of the Cuanza, with the towns of Culamagia and Techongolola on the edges of the park. It is the smallest national park in Angola.

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The Pavilhão Palanca Negra is a state-owned multisports indoor arena located in Malanje, Angola. The 3000-seat arena features hardwood flooring, electronic scoreboard and a wide range of features that make it one of the most modern of its kind in Africa. It was built to host the 2013 Angola Roller Hockey President's Cup and is fit for such sports as Basketball, Handball, Volleyball and Roller Hockey.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eduardo de Figueroa, 8th Count of Yebes</span> Spanish aristocrat, architect, politician and writer

Eduardo de Figueroa y Alonso-Martínez, 8th Count of Yebes was a Spanish aristocrat, architect, politician and writer. He was a member of parliament for Barbastro, fellow of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando and president of the National Board of Trophy Hunting Homologation.

References

  1. IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group (2017). "Hippotragus niger ssp. variani". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T10169A50188611. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T10169A50188611.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is critically endangered.
  2. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. Stimpson, Ashley (June 8, 2021). "One Biologist's 20-Year Mission to Save Angola's Giant Sable". Atlas Obscura. p. 1. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  4. Walker (2004). p. 105
  5. 1 2 3 4 Ellis, Richard (2004). No Turning Back: The Life and Death of Animal Species . New York: Harper Perennial. p.  139. ISBN   978-0-06-055804-8.
  6. Espregueira Themudo, Gonçalo; Rufino, Ana C.; Campos, Paula F. (2015-02-01). "Complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of the endangered giant sable antelope (Hippotragus niger variani): Insights into conservation and taxonomy". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 83 (#1): 242–249. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2014.12.001. PMID   25527983.

Bibliography