Impala

Male impala

The Impala (Aepyceros melampus ), also called Impala is a medium-sized African antelope. Because of the superficial similarity, the Impala was formerly often placed close to the gazelles, according to new findings, however, is more closely related to the hartebeest.

Features

Impalas can reach a shoulder height of 90 cm and a weight of 40 kg ( females ) to 65 kg ( males ). They are fawn colored top, the sides here have a slightly lighter color. The lower abdomen, chest, throat and chin are whitish. The rump adorns both sides of a vertical black stripes. Tarsal and metacarpal are against black-brown, which is why this type is also called Impala. Above the hoof grows a black tuft of hair on each hind leg. The head is petite, her eyes large and the ears small and pointed. Males have lyre- shaped horns which can grow up to 90 cm long and to the rear, swing out sideways and up.

Distribution and subspecies

The range extends from Kenya and Uganda Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe to Botswana and north-eastern South Africa. Isolated from this area lives another population of the border of Angola and Namibia; this is a separate subspecies Black-faced Impala (A. m. petersi ) separated, the can be recognized by its characteristic black face markings. Schwarznasenimpalas are particularly widespread in the eastern part of Etosha National Park in Namibia. They have increasingly migrated from there in the course of recent years in the western parts of the national park, so that they are found also at the waterholes at Okaukuejo today.

All other Impalas are usually regarded as a single subspecies and the nominate A. m. melampus considered to belong, which is strongly supported by genetic analyzes.

An unusual settlement of Impalas took Calauit Game Preserve in 1976 and Wildlife Sanctuary in the Philippines instead. It is the only free-living population of impala outside Africa.

Endangering

The IUCN classifies the Impala as a " not at risk " ( least concern ). The Black- subspecies is considered "at risk" ( vulnerable ).

Way of life

Male Black-

Ongoing Schwarznasenimpalas

The preferred habitat of the Impala is the open savannah. During the breeding season a Impalamännchen usually guarded a group of females. He goes on like a parade back and forth, showing his horns, lays back his ears and lifts his tail. The struggle of the males for a harem can be divided into three fight sequences. In the first part of the challenger demonstrates its bright side of the abdomen, yawns and can shoot out the tongue. Then the male lowers his head as a challenge to fight. In the second phase, the two rivals face each other with our heads over, will advance and retreat again. Returns after this demonstration phase, none of the males, wedge the two animals the horns and push each other back and forth to separate again and begin their shift battle over again, giving up until one of the animals. Blood does not flow normally.

Female Impalas live with their young in herds of ten to one hundred animals. Of these separate herds train young and old males, who are too weak to defend a territory. Males in middle age are territorial loners and require each female in itself, which wanders through their territory.

On the run Impalas can reach high speeds and perform up to 9 meters long jumps. When crossing, for example, farm fences, they can also jump up to 3 meters high. However, they are looking mostly to a recovery, as opposed to trust solely on their speed. In their defense strategy against Hetzjägern such as the African wild dog also include so-called bounce jumps, jump where the antelope stiffly into the air.

Others

The name " Impala " comes from the Zulu language, the emphasis is done on the A in the middle of ( Impala ). Chevrolet named its 1957 published full-size Car Chevrolet Impala after antelope.