(Aepyceros melampus)
Class Mammalia
phylum Chordata,
subphylum Vertebrata
order Artiodactyla,
family Bovidae.
Height
- 28 to 36 inches tall
Weight: 100 to 135 pounds
Lifespan: 12 years
Diet: Grazer/browser
Gestation: Between 6 and 7 months
Predators: Lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, hunting dogs
A species of
antelope, Aepyceros melampus, closely related to the gazelle and found
in the savannah and bush country. It is the antelope most commonly depicted
in illustrations and in motion pictures.
It is about 3 ft (90 cm) high at the shoulder, with a coat of rich,
reddish brown, shading to whitish on the underparts. The horns, borne
only by the male, are long and curved in the shape of a lyre.
Impalas are the most powerful jumpers of all antelopes; they can leap 10 ft (3 m) into the air and travel 30 ft (9 m) in a single bound.
Impalas live in herds, sometimes numbering several hundred individuals; they feed on grasses and shrubs and always stay fairly near water.
They are often found in association with herds of other animals, such as zebras and gnus. Impalas are still fairly numerous over most of their range.
Watch the Impala in action.....Click
here for video
