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 and northeastern South Africa.
Appearance
Impala stand between 75 to 95 centimetres tall at the shoulder and weigh about 50
kilogrammes. They are reddish-brown in color with lighter flanks, and have white underbellies. Males have
lyre-shaped horns which can reach up to 90 centimetres in length. Impala are among the most beautiful and graceful of the antelopes. Exceedingly agile, they are capable of leaping more than 10
m in a single bound.
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 a doe 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.
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.
References
External Links
Image:Impala.jpg|Impala leaping from the water
Image:impala.JPG|A group of impala in South Africa
Image:Aepyceros_melampus.png|Impala in Zambia
Image:Animaux1.jpg|Male impala
Fauna of South Africa | Fauna of Zambia | Fauna of East Africa | Fauna of Ethiopia | Fauna of Angola | Fauna of Namibia
Rooibok | Impala | Aepyceros melampus | Impalo | Impala | Aepyceros melampus | Impala | Impala | Impala | Impala | インパラ | Impala | Импала | Імпала | 高角羚