They have long legs and necks and black, twisted horns. As members of the Bovidae family, they are related to goats, cattle and sheep. Impalas weigh around the same amount as a large dog at 88 to lbs. They grow to 33 to 39 inches 84 to 99 centimeters long by adulthood and typically come up to the chest of an average-sized adult man, according to National Geographic.
They also live in savannas. Impala are diurnal, which means they are most active in the early morning and right before sunset. During the rainy season, impalas gather in groups of hundreds. In dry season the herds roam together to look for food. During the rainy season males can be territorial and will herd females around a territorial area.
Groups of young impalas are called creches. Older impala males stake out mating territories and herd groups of females that they jealously guard against any rivals. During this exhausting mating period, the male must fight off challengers, herd his females, and mate with them. Unsuccessful bids to take over a male's territory usually end with the loser retreating to join a bachelor herd. Females typically give birth about seven months after they mate, usually to a single impala.
Both mother and baby join a herd of females and offspring within a few days. All rights reserved. Common Name: Impala. Scientific Name: Aepyceros melampus. Type: Mammals. Diet: Herbivore. Size: Height at the shoulder: 33 to 39 inches. Weight: 88 to pounds. Size relative to a 6-ft man:. Least concern. Least Concern Extinct. Current Population Trend: Stable. This photo was submitted to Your Shot, our photo community on Instagram.
Follow us on Instagram at natgeoyourshot or visit us at natgeo. They are commonly targeted as prey for a number of large African predators, including lions, cheetahs , leopards , and more. To give them the edge against skilled and powerful predators, these mammals are lithe and acrobatic.
They are well-known for making dramatic, characteristic leaps into the air to confuse and evade predators. Read on to learn about the impala. Impalas lie smack in between the extremes of antelope size. They stand up to 36 in. Their fur is reddish-brown, with lighter colored sides and underbelly. Males have pairs of curved horns, while females do not grow horns at all.
This easily-distinguishable difference is called sexual dimorphism. Another way to tell males from females is by looking at their size, as females are significantly smaller than males. Perhaps most well-known for becoming prey to the large and charismatic predators of Africa, impalas are actually surprisingly efficient at avoiding becoming dinner!
Learn more about the various adaptations that help these antelopes compete. These antelopes prefer areas with plenty of shade, rather than open savannahs or grasslands.
Their favorite habitats are woodlands, but they also commonly reside on the borders between woodlands and other habitats like savannahs.
As with any African habitat, areas closer to reliable water sources are preferred and highly valuable resources. The habitat choice usually differs between the dry season and the wet season, especially in areas with greater elephant activity and grazing, which impacts the available food. Impalas exist across southeastern Africa, and parts of western South Africa.
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