AnimalsThe blackbuck is a graceful antelope of the Indian plains. Adult males are dark brown to black above and white below, with long spiral horns. Females are fawn-coloured and usually hornless. It is one of the fastest animals in India.
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Antilope cervicapra
- Group
- Mammals
- Diet
- Herbivore (eats plants)
- Lives in
- India and Nepal
- Habitat
- Open grassland and scrub
- A young one is called
- fawn
- A group is called
- herd
- Conservation status
- Least Concern
How it is classified
Scientists sort living things into groups within groups. Reading down, each step is a smaller group, ending with the species itself.
- Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Chordata
- Class Mammalia
- Order Artiodactyla
- Family Bovidae
- Genus Antilope
- Species Antilope cervicapra
Other members of the family Bovidae on this site: cow, gaur, goat, nilgai, sheep, water buffalo, yak.
More distant relatives in the order Artiodactyla: Bactrian camel, chital, dromedary camel, giraffe, hippopotamus, moose, pig, reindeer, sambar, wild boar.
Classification follows the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Other reference works arrange some groups differently. How classification works.
Is it in danger?
The blackbuck is listed as Least Concern. The species is widespread or numerous enough that it is not considered at risk of extinction at present.
This is the IUCN Red List category as recorded in Wikidata on 11 November 2026. The IUCN Red List itself is the authority and may carry a newer assessment. What the categories mean.