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Impala - AEPYCEROS MELAMPUS
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
The Name "Impala": "Impala" is the Zulu word for the animal.
Location: Southern Africa.
Habitat: Terrestrial. Wooded savanna.
Description:This graceful antelope has a glossy, reddish brown coat which varies geographically. The chin, throat, rump, and underside of the body are white. There is a conspicuous black line on the hind part of the thighs and black tufts on the heels of the hind legs. The tail is fairly long and has a white tuft at the end. The slender horns, present only in the male, 20 to 30 inches long and form an S-shaped curve. Impala can reach five feet long, over three feet high at the shoulder, and weigh up to 175 pounds, with the female somewhat smaller.
Behavior: Impalas live in herds of about 15 to 25 females and young, with a dominant adult male. Young males form herds by themselves. During the dry months, males and females gather into large herds of up to several hundred individuals. When in flight it makes remarkable leaps, up to 30 feet, often for no apparent reason. It feeds mainly on leaves and twigs of acacia trees, bushes, fruits, and short grass. Generally dependent on water, it can survive several days on dew. It is active both night and day. The main predators of impalas are leopards, cheetahs, and wild dogs.
Reproduction:Gestation lasts about 170 days, after which one young (occasionally two) is born.
Go to the Artiodactyla Page to learn more about all the even-toed hoofed animals.
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