The sable antelope is the African antelope known for a white facial blaze and long, lyre-shaped horns.
Sable antelopes have a striking appearance: adults are usually dark brown to black, while females and young animals are often chestnut brown. A white face marking contrasts with the dark coat, and both sexes carry strongly curved horns, although males generally have larger and heavier ones.
The species lives in wooded savannas and grasslands across parts of eastern and southern Africa. Its horns are used in contests between males and can also provide a formidable defense against predators. Sables are powerful animals rather than delicate open-plains runners.
Greater kudu are often confused with sables because they also have impressive spiral horns. Kudu horns form open spirals, whereas sable horns curve backward in a distinctive, sweeping shape.