Impala

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For other uses, see Impala (disambiguation).
Impala

A Back-faced Impala in Etosha National Park, Namibia
Conservation status

Conservation Dependent
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Aepycerotinae
Gray, 1872
Genus: Aepyceros
Sundevall, 1847
Species: A. melampus
Binomial name
Aepyceros melampus
(Lichtenstein, 1812)

Range map

An impala (Aepyceros melampus Greek aipos "high" ceros "horn" + melas "black" pous "foot") is a medium-sized African antelope. The name impala comes from the Zulu language. They are found in savannas in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, southern Angola, northeastern South Africa and Uganda (the source of that country's capital city's name - Kampala).

Contents

  • 1 Appearance
  • 2 Habits
  • 3 Social structure
  • 4 References
  • 5 External links

[edit] Appearance

Average weight for an Impala is approximately 75 kilograms. They are reddish-brown in color with lighter flanks, and have

Impala ram from the Kruger National Park, South Africa.

white underbellies. Males have lyre-shaped horns which can reach up to 90 centimeters in length. When frightened or startled the whole herd starts leaping about in order to confuse their predator. They can jump distances more than 9 meters (30 feet) and 2.5 meters (8 feet) high. They are prey to almost every large predator.

[edit] Habits

Impala are among the dominant species in many savannas. They are gregarious creatures and are usually found in herds, often a male with many females, although an ewe will leave the herd to give birth. Their food consists of a mixture of grasses and leaves. Herds will use specific areas for their excrement. Impala are active during both day and night. Impala are dependent on water, and a herd is normally an indicator of water close by.

Impala ewe from the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Note the characteristic "M" marking on its rear, which gives it the popular name "MacDonalds of the Bush".

[edit] Social structure

Young male impala form bachelor herds of around thirty individuals. Females and young form herds of up to two hundred individuals. Mature males hold territories, and lead any female herds that wander into their territory.