The great black horse antelope, also known as the Angora sable antelope, is a genus of the subfamily Etelope of the family Oleraceae. A pair of large horns on the head can reach a maximum length of 1.6 meters. One of the five subspecies of the black horse gazelle, endemic to Angola. It is found only in Angola in Africa, where it breeds and lives in the Kuandu River Basin. It is a critically endangered species with a population of less than 400. It is the national beast of Angola, and as a symbol of Angola, the image of the great black horse is printed on the country's stamps, banknotes and passports.
Males weigh an average of 238 kg, are 116–142 cm tall, and have horns ranging in length from 81–165 cm. Females weigh an average of 220 kg and are slightly shorter than males, with horns ranging in length from 61-102 cm. Except for the males, who are black fur, the females and pups are maroon. There are white stripes from the snout to the cheeks, and white on the abdomen and buttocks. The neck is strong and the hairs on the back of the neck are erect. There are legs suitable for long-distance running, with 4 toes on the feet, but the side toes are more degenerate than deer and suitable for running.
Live in groups of 7-30 individuals per group, sometimes as many as hundreds, led by adult males. Like other antelopes, the great black horse is also more cautious and shy. When frightened, they stop looking back after a quick sprint, but when they find themselves being chased, they run wildly, reaching a maximum speed of 56 km/h. It feeds mainly on grass, leaves, and fruits. The great black oryx is a very noble animal in Angola, representing vitality, agility and grace in African mythology.
The black horse antelope, the genus Of the equine subfamily Oryx of the family Bovis, has a total of 5 subspecies differentiation: nominate subspecies (South African blackhorn), Zambian subspecies (Zambian blackhorn), Ansel subspecies, East African subspecies, and Angolan subspecies (great black horse gazelle). The body hair is short and coarse , with dark gray or black body colour in males and maroon for females and pups ( under three years of age ) . Females of the nominate subspecies turn brownish-black upon maturity. It prefers to inhabit tropical shrublands and savannahs, and has strong adaptability to arid environments.