Blackbuck

For other uses, see Blackbuck (disambiguation).
Blackbuck
A blackbuck at the Velavadar Black Buck Sanctuary in Gujarat, India
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Genus: Antilope
Species: A. cervicapra
Binomial name
Antilope cervicapra
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Subspecies

A. c. cervicapra (Linnaeus, 1758)
A. c. rajputanae Zukowsky, 1927

The blackbuck, (pronounced /ˈblak-ˌbək/) (Antilope cervicapra) also known as the Indian antelope, is an antelope commonly found in India. The blackbuck is the sole extant member of the genus Antilope. The species was first described by Swedish zoologist Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Two subspecies are recognised. It stands up to 74 to 84 cm (29 to 33 in) high at the shoulder. Males weigh 20–57 kilograms (44–126 lb), an average of 38 kilograms (84 lb). Females are lighter, weighing 20–33 kilograms (44–73 lb) or 27 kilograms (60 lb) on an average. The long, ringed horns, 35–75 centimetres (14–30 in) long, are generally present only on males, though females may 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. The coat of males shows two types of colouration: while the upper parts and outsides of the legs are dark brown to black, the underparts and the insides of the legs are all white. On the other hand, females and juveniles are yellowish fawn to tan.

The blackbuck is a diurnal antelope (active mainly during the day). Three kinds of groups, typically small, are the female, male and bachelor herds. Males often adopt lekking as a strategy on the part of males 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. Herbivores, blackbuck graze on low grasses, occasionally browsing as well. Females become sexually mature at eight months, but mate no earlier than two years. Males mature later, at one-and-a-half 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 blackbuck inhabits grassy plains and slightly forested areas. Due to their regular need of water, they prefer areas where water is readily available for a long time. The antelope is native to and found mainly in India, while it is extinct in Bangladesh. Today, only small, scattered herds are seen, largely confined to protected areas.During the 20th century, blackbuck numbers declined sharply due to excessive hunting, deforestation and habitat degradation. The blackbuck has been successfully introduced in Argentina and USA. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) lists the blackbuck as Near Threatened. 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 mean no harm to the antelope.

Etymology

The scientific name of the blackbuck is Antilope cervicapra. Its generic name stems from the Latin word antalopus ("horned animal").[2][3] The specific name cervicapra is composed of the Latin words capra ("she-goat") and cervus ("deer").[2][4] The vernacular name "blackbuck" (pronounced /ˈblak-ˌbək/) is a reference to the dark brown to black colour of the dorsal (upper) part of the coat of the male.[5] The earliest recorded use of this name dates back to 1850.[6] Alternative names for the blackbuck are "Indian antelope",[7] kadiyal, kala hiran, krishna mrig and krishnasaar (in Hindi); krishna jinka (in Telugu); and iralai maan (in Tamil).[8][9][10]

Taxonomy and phylogeny

The blackbuck is the sole extant member of the genus Antilope and is classified under the family Bovidae. The species was first described by Swedish zoologist Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae in 1758.[11][12]

Antilope, Eudorcas, Gazella and Nanger form a clade within their tribe Antilopini. A 1995 study of the detailed karyotype of Antilope revealed that within this clade, Antilope is closest to the Gazella group.[13] A 1999 phylogenetic analysis showed that Antilope is the closest sister taxon to Gazella,[14] although the earliest phylogeny, proposed in 1976, placed Antilope as sister to Nanger.[15] In a more recent revision of the phylogeny of Antilopini on the basis of nuclear and mitochondrial data in 2013, Eva Verena Bärmann (of the University of Cambridge) and colleagues constructed a cladogram that clearly depicted the close relationship between Antilope and Gazella. Nanger and Eudorcas were found to have a similar relationship.[16][17]

Gazella



Cuvier's gazelle

Rhim gazelle

Sand gazelle

Chinkara

Goitered gazelle


Mountain gazelle

Speke's gazelle

Dorcas gazelle




Antilope

Blackbuck



Two subspecies are recognised,[18][19][20] although they might be independent species:[21]

Genetics

The blackbuck has 30 male chromosomes and 31 female chromosomes.[21] Unusually large sex chromosomes had earlier been described only in a few species, all of which belonged to Rodentia. However, in 1968, a study found that two artiodactyls, the blackbuck and the sitatunga, too showed this abnormality. Generally the X chromosome constitutes 5 percent of the haploid chromosomal complement; but the X chromosome of the blackbuck this percentage is 14.96. Portions of both peculiarly large chromosomes show delayed replication.[22]

A 1997 study found lower protein polymorphism in Antilope in comparison with Antidorcas, Eudorcas and Gazella. This was attributed to a history of rapid evolution of an autapomorphic phenotype of Antilope. This might have been aided by a particularly strong selection of a few dominant males due to its lekking behaviour.[23]

Description

Blackbuck – male and female
Male 
Female 

The blackbuck is a moderately sized antelope. It stands up to 74 to 84 cm (29 to 33 in) high at the shoulder; the head-to-body length is nearly 120 cm (47 in).[12] According to observations in Texas, males weigh 20–57 kilograms (44–126 lb), an average of 38 kilograms (84 lb). Females are lighter, weighing 20–33 kilograms (44–73 lb) or 27 kilograms (60 lb) on an average.[24] Sexual dimorphism is prominent, as males are heavier and darker than the females.[24] The long, ringed horns, that resemble corkscrews, are generally present only on males, though females may develop horns as well. They measure 35–75 centimetres (14–30 in), though the maximum horn length recorded in Texas has not exceeded 58 centimetres (23 in). The horns diverge forming a "V"-like shape.[24] Horns in India have been found to be longer and more divergent in specimens from the northern and western parts of the country.[20]

The white fur on the chin and around the eyes is in sharp contrast with the black stripes on the face. The coat of males shows two types of colouration: while the upper parts and outsides of the legs are dark brown to black, the underparts and the insides of the legs are all white. Darkness typically increases as the male ages.[25] On the other hand, females and juveniles are yellowish fawn to tan.[25] Blackbuck moult in spring, following which the males look notably lighter, though darkness persists on the face and the legs.[24] On the contrary, males will grow darker as the breeding season approaches.[25] Albino blackbuck have been observed; for instance, such an individual was seen in the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (Andhra Pradesh, India).[26]

Blackbuck are sometimes treated as gazelles. Blackbuck bear a close resemblance to gazelles, and are distinguished mainly by the fact that while gazelles are brown in the dorsal parts, blackbuck develop a dark brown and even black colour in these parts.[5]

Ecology and behaviour

A herd of blackbuck

The blackbuck is a diurnal antelope (active mainly during the day), though activity slows down at noon as days grow hotter toward summer.[12] Three kinds of groups, typically small, are the female, male and bachelor herds.[24] A study discovered that group sizes often fluctuate; membership is often dictated by availability of forage and the nature of the habitat. Large herds have an edge over smaller ones in that danger can be detected faster, though individual vigilance is lower in the former. Greater time is spent in feeding by large herds. A disadvantage for large herds, however, is that traveling requires more resources.[27] A study found that herd size reduces in summer.[9] Fast animals, the blackbuck can run at as high as 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph).[12]

Males often adopt lekking as a strategy on the part of males to garner females for mating. Territories are established on the basis of the local distribution of female groups, which in turn is determined by the habitat structure, so as to ensure greater access to them.[28] The males actively defend the resources in their territories, nearly 1.2 to 12 hectares (3.0 to 29.7 acres) in size;[24] territories are marked with scent (using preorbital gland and interdigital gland secretions, faeces and urine)[29][30] While other males are not allowed into these territories, females often visit these places to forage. The male can thus attempt mating with her. Lekking is a demanding strategy, as the males often have to bear injuries-thus it is a tactic typically adopted by strong, dominant males. Males may either defend their mates or try to forcibly copulate with them. Weaker males, who may not be dominant, might choose the second method.[31]

Blackbuck are severely affected by natural calamities such as floods and droughts, from which they can take as long as five years to recover.[32] Wolves are major predators;[33] a study found that old rutting bulls might be vulnerable to wolves.[32] Cheetahs and pariah dogs are the other predators.[5] Juveniles are also hunted by jackals. Village dogs are reported to kill fawns, but are unlikely to successfully hunt and kill adults.[34]

Diet

Blackbuck prefer grasses.

Herbivores, blackbuck graze on low grasses, occasionally browsing as well. They prefer sedges, fall witchgrass, mesquite, and live oak. They have occasionally been observed browsing on acacia trees in the Cholistan Desert.[35] Oats and berseem were found to be palatable and nutritious to captive populations in a study.[36] A study in the Velavadar Black Buck Sanctuary (Gujarat, India) showed that Dicanthium annulatum comprised 35 percent of the diet. Digestion of nutrients, especially crude proteins, was poor in summer, but more efficient in the rainy and winter seasons. Consequently crude protein intake in summer was very low, even below the recommended value. Blackbuck had a lower food consumption in summer. Prosopis juliflora came across as a significant food item if grasses became scarce.[37] Water is a daily requirement of the blackbuck.[1]

Reproduction

Two males fighting for dominance
Courtship display in blackbuck

Females become sexually mature at eight months, but mate no earlier than two years. Males mature later, at one-and-a-half years. Mating takes place throughout the year; peaks occur during spring and fall in Texas.[24] Two peaks have been observed in India: from August to October and from March to April.[9] Rutting males aggressively establish and defend their territories from other males, giving out loud grunts and engaging in serious head-to-head fights, pushing each other using horns.[12] Aggressive display consists of thrusting the neck forward and raising it, folding the ears and raising the tail. The dominant male will pursue the female with his nose pointing upward, performs flehmen and smell her urine. The female shows her receptivity by waving her tail and thumping the hindlegs on the ground. This is followed by several mounting attempts, and copulation. The whole process may last as long as six hours. The female will remain still for some time after copulation, following which she may start grazing. The male may then move on to mate with another female.[9][38] There have been instances of homosexuality in blackbuck males.[39]

Gestation is typically six months long,[40] after which a single calf is born.[24] Newborn are a light yellow; infant males may have a black patch on the head and the neck.[9] Young are precocial - they can stand on their own soon after birth.[12] Females can mate again after a month of parturition.[24] Juveniles remain active and playful throughout the day. Male juveniles turn black gradually, darkening notably after the third year.[9] The lifespan is typically 10 to 15 years.[24][5]

Habitat and distribution

Blackbuck prefer grassy plains.

The blackbuck inhabits grassy plains and slightly forested areas. Scrublands are a good source of forage and cover.[25] Due to their regular need of water, they prefer areas where water is readily available for a long time. Though sedentary, blackbuck may travel long distances to obtain water.[1] Cold climates do not suit the blackbuck.[25] In the Indian subcontinent, the blackbuck can also be found in deserts (in the northwestern region), coastal areas, mountains (in the northern-northeastern region).[24][1]

The antelope is native to and found mainly in India, while it is extinct in Bangladesh.[1] Today, only small, scattered herds are seen, largely confined to protected areas.[41] English naturalist William Thomas Blanford, in his 1891 The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma, described the range of the blackbuck in those times as:[11]

Blackbuck in the Ranibennur Blackbuck Sanctuary (Karnataka, India)
Along the base of the Himalayas from the Punjab to Nepal, and probably in most parts of the Peninsula where the country is wooded and hilly, but not in dense jungle ... it is common in the wooded parts of Rajputana, throughout the Bombay Presidency, the Central Provinces, and the northern parts of Madras, less abundant to the eastward in Chhattisgarh, Chutia Nagpur [sic], Bengal and Orissa, and to the southward in Mysore, but it occurs in the latter state occasionally, and has been observed on the Nilgiri and Palni hills. It is unknown in Ceylon and east of the Bay of Bengal.

In Nepal, the last surviving population of blackbuck is found in the Blackbuck Conservation Area south of the Bardia National Park. In 2008, the population was estimated at 184.[42] In Pakistan, blackbuck are irregular vagrants, moving along the border with India. They are kept in enclosures in the Lal Suhanra National Park.[35] The antelope was introduced in Texas in the Edwards Plateau in 1932. By 1988, the population had increased and the antelope was the most populous exotic animal in Texas after the chital.[24][43] As of early 2000s, the population in the USA has been estimated at 35,000. Blackbuck have been introduced into Argentina, numbering about 8,600 individuals (as of the early 2000s).[35]

Royalty hunting blackbuck with Asiatic cheetah in South Gujarat, 1812

Threats and conservation

During the 20th century, blackbuck numbers declined sharply due to excessive hunting, deforestation and habitat degradation. Some blackbucks are killed illegally especially where they are sympatric with nilgai.[1] Until India's independence in 1947, blackbuck and chinkara were hunted in many princely states with specially trained captive Asiatic cheetahs.[41] By the 1970s, blackbuck were extinct in several areas.[44] Nevertheless, populations in India have increased from 24,000 in the late 1970s to 50,000 in 2001. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) lists the blackbuck as Near Threatened.[1] CITES (Washington Convention) lists the blackbuck under Appendix III (Nepal).[18]

In India, hunting of blackbuck is prohibited under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.[45][10] They occur in several protected areas of India, including: Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary (Bihar); Gir Forest National Park[46] and Velavadar Wildlife Sanctuary (Gujarat); Ranibennur Blackbuck Sanctuary (Karnataka); Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary (Maharashtra); National Chambal Sanctuary, Ranthambhore National Park[47] and Tal Chhapar Sanctuary (Rajasthan); Guindy National Park, Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary and Vallanadu Wildlife Sanctuary[48] (Tamil Nadu).[35][1]

Interaction with human beings

Akbar hunting blackbuck (Akbarnama, c.1590-5)

The blackbuck has associations with the Indian culture. The antelope was a major source of food in the Indus Valley civilisation (3300-1700 BCE); its fossils have been discovered in Dholavira.[49] The blackbuck is also depicted in miniature paintings of the Mughal era (16th to 19th centuries).[50][51][52] Villagers in India and Nepal generally wish no harm to the blackbuck.[53] Tribes such as the Bishnois take care of several animals including the blackbuck.[10][54] It has been declared as the state animal of Andhra Pradesh.[8]

The animal is mentioned in Sanskrit texts.[10] According to Hindu mythology, the blackbuck draws the chariot of Lord Krishna.[53] The blackbuck is considered to be the vehicle of Vayu (the wind god), Soma (the divine drink) and Chandra (the moon god).[10] In Tamil Nadu, the blackbuck is considered to be the vehicle of the Hindu goddess Korravai.[54] In Rajasthan, the goddess Karni Mata is believed to protect the blackbuck.[54]

In the Yājñavalkya Smṛti, Sage Yagyavalkya is quoted as having explained:[55][56]

In what country there is black antelope, in that Dharma must be known.

The hide of the blackbuck (krishnajina in Hindi) is deemed to be sacred in Hinduism. According to the scriptures, it is to be used to be sat upon only by brahmins (priests), sadhus and yogis (sages), forest-dwellers and bhikshus (mendicants).[54][57] Blackbuck meat is highly regarded for its quality in Texas.[58] In an analysis, blackbuck milk was found to have 6.9% protein, 9.3% fat, and 4.3% lactose.[59]

In some agricultural areas in northern India, the blackbuck are found in large numbers and raid crop fields.[60] However, the damage caused by blackbuck is far lower than that caused by the nilgai.[61][62]


Blackbuck as a heraldry symbol of some princely states of India
Barwani coat of arms 
Jaisalmer coat of arms 
Jaora coat of arms 
Malerkotla coat of arms 
Nawanagar coat of arms 
Radhanpur coat of arms 
Samthar coat of arms 

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Mallon, D. P. (2008). "Antilope cervicapra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature.
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  5. 1 2 3 4 Mares, M.A. (1999). Encyclopedia of Deserts. Norman, Oklahoma (USA): University of Oklahoma Press. p. 78. ISBN 9780585194783.
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  8. 1 2 Somasekhar, M. (18 November 2008). "After black bucks, leopards to be bred in captivity". Business Line.
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  54. 1 2 3 4 van der Geer, A. (2008). Animals in Stone : Indian Mammals Sculptured through Time. Leiden, South Holland (Netherlands): Brill. p. 57-8. ISBN 9789004168190.
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  58. ↑ Bonnell, J. (2009). Jon Bonnell's Fine Texas Cuisine (1st ed.). Layton, Utah (USA): Gibbs Smith. p. 122. ISBN 978-1-4236-0523-2.
  59. ↑ Dill, C. W.; Tybor, P. T.; Mcgill, R.; Ramsey, C. W. (1972). "Gross composition and fatty acid constitution of blackbuck antelope (Antilope cervicapra) milk". Canadian Journal of Zoology 50 (8): 1127–9. doi:10.1139/z72-150.
  60. ↑ Jhala, Y. V. (January 1993). "Damage to Sorghum crop by blackbuck". International Journal of Pest Management 39 (1): 23–7. doi:10.1080/09670879309371754.
  61. ↑ Chauhan, N.P.S.; Singh, R. (1990). "Crop damage by overabundant populations of nilgai and blackbuck in Haryana (India) and its management (Paper 13)". Proceedings of the Fourteenth Vertebrate Pest Conference 1990: 218–20.
  62. ↑ Chauhan, N.P.S.; Sawarkar, V.B. (1989). "Problems of over-abundant populations of 'Nilgai' and 'Blackbuck' in Haryana and Madhya Pradesh and their management". The Indian Forester 115 (7).

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