Quick stats of the Impala

• Diet: - Herbivore
• Shoulder Height: - 0.9 m
• Weight: - Male - 58.4 kg
• Weight: - Female - 43.4 kg
• Lifespan - 13 years

Description

The Impala is a graceful antelope. They are commonly found in groups of about 10 to 30 head. They found mainly along eastern Africa and are never far from water.

Only the male impala have horns. They also emit a loud, deep throated raspy sound which serves to alert the herd of danger. Readied by this warning, the animals will scatter, leaping gracefully over shrubs or other obstructions.

The herd structure varies according to the reproductive phase of the animals. Their mating season lasts from April to early June. During this season dominant males will fight fiercely where the victor will gather a small herd of females with which he alone will have the right to mate. During these months, bachelor herds will also form. These young males are incapable of securing their own small harem of females.

After the mating season, males become less aggressive towards each other and the mating herds and bachelor herds break up to be replaced by mixed herds, in which the two sexes intermingle peacefully.

In early November the first of the young impala are born, and lambing continues until about the end of December.

Other Names for the Impala

• Rooibok

Distribution

Distribution map of the Impala

Taxonomy of the Impala

• Order - Artiodactyla
• Family - Bovidae
• Sub Family - Aepycerotinae
• Genus - Aepyceros
• Species - Aepyceros melampus