Impala (Aepyceros melampus)

Genus: Aepyceros
Species: A. melampus
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae

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.