Aepyceros melampus
The Impala (whose name comes from the Zulu language) is found in savannas in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, southern Angola, northeastern South Africa and Uganda. Only the males have horns, which can reach up to 90 centimeters in length.
When frightened 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. However, they are prey to almost every large predator.
Impalas are almost always located very close to water. They eat tender young grass shoots in the wet season and herbs and shrubs at other times. During the dry season they drink daily.
The picture of this Impala was taken at the zoo of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in August 2002.
Genus Aepyceros
Subfamily Aepycerotinae
Family Bovidae
Order Artiodactyla
Subclass Eutheria
Class Mammalia
Subphylum Vertebrata
Phylum Chordata
Kingdom Animalia
Life on Earth
Index