Impala
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| Impala | |||||||||||||||||
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| A male impala in the Serengeti | |||||||||||||||||
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| Aepyceros melampus (Lichtenstein, 1812) |
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An impala (Aepyceros melampus) is a medium-sized African antelope. The name "impala" comes from the Zulu language.
[change] Description
The impala is reddish-brown with white hair inside the ears, over each eye and on the chin, upper throat, underparts and buttocks. A narrow black line runs along the middle of the lower back to the tail, and a vertical black stripe appears on the back of each thigh. Impalas have unique brushlike tufts of black hair that cover a scent gland located just above the heel on each hind leg.
The impala can jump more than 10 meters distance and 3 meters high, and can reach running speeds of about 80 to 90 km/h, to escape from predators.
[change] Habitat
Impalas are found at grassland and woodland edges, usually very close by water.
