Impala

The Aepyceros melampus , more commonly known under the name of impala (male name) is a Mammifère forming part about the Artiodactyles and more precisely of the family of the Bovidés. One finds it mainly in the east of the central Africa and the south (in South Africa, in Angola, Democratic republic of Congo, with the Rwanda, in Uganda and with the Kenya). There are 6 subspecies of impala: Aepyceros melampus melampus , A. Mr. johnstoni , A. Mr. katangaei , A. Mr. petersi , A. Mr. rendili and A. Mr. will suara . The six are very similar but live in different habitats.

Physical description

The impalas resemble Gazelle S or Antilope S and generally measure of 1,15 m to 1,45 m of length and approximately 90 cm of height to the shoulder for the male and 80 cm for the female. The males have a mass more raised than the females (from 53 to 75 kg compared with 40 to 55 kg). The male, like the female, is of brown reddish on the back and beige on the sides. The belly of the impala just as its lips and its tail are white.

It is also necessary to mention their single black lines with each individual at the end of the ears, on the back of the tail and the face. These black lines are very useful for the impalas since in fact signs their make it possible to be recognized between them. They have also Glande S secreting of the odors on the legs before and on the face. These odors also make it possible to the individuals to be recognized between them.

The male and female impalas have a different morphology. Indeed, one can easily distinguish a male by his horn S S-shaped which measures from 40 to 90 cm length.

Habitat

The impalas live in the Savane S where the grass (short or average) abounds. Although they appreciate the proximity of a source of Eau, this one is generally not essential with the impalas since they can be satisfied water contained in the grass which they consume. Their environment is relatively not very broken and is made up only of grass, of bushes as well as few trees.

Practices of life

The impalas are animals Diurne S; they thus pass the majority of the night to be rested and to ruminate and move the day in order to find new spaces feeder.

The impalas are animals having a relatively developed social structure. A herd can contain from 15 to 100 individuals according to the territory available. In a herd one finds a Mâle dominating and several females with their offspring as well as other males impubères. These males will then form a group of males without females which will try later to assert themselves (individually) or simply “to steal” the female of another male. It happens sometimes that a male dominating cannot reproduce because it is too occupied defending its territory and to push back the other males to only keep its females with him. During the wet seasons, the herd will remain together, whereas during the dry season, the impalas scatter as much as possible. This situation is due to a less abundant food during the dry season and than during the wet season, the male dominating wishes to keep the females to copulate.

Predation

The Lion S, leopard S, Cheetah S, wild dogs and Hyène S are its five principal predatory. Incompetent to fight against those, the impala nevertheless is equipped with techniques of defense against his predatory. The first consists in fleeing while leaping in random directions to mix the predator and to sow it. Thanks to their muscular thighs, its jumps regularly reach the 3 meters height and the 10 meters length. The second is rarer, since it is a confrontation: the impala will be put face to face with its predator and will rise on its two legs before and will point its horns in direction of the predator, while hoping to dissuade its adversary. This principle of defense relates to only the males, the females being deprived of horns.

Food

The impala is a Ruminant and is thus Herbivore. The food of the impala is very simple and is summarized with practically all grass shapes, of sheets and even of Fleur S. This food has an impact on its Denture which contains only molars (slightly more pointed with before).

Reproduction

The males are mature sexually to 1 year whereas the females are it to 1 year and half. Nevertheless, the males will not have a territory before the 4 years age and thus will not reproduce before this age.

The coupling is done normally during the period between May and March. Nevertheless, in Equatorial Africa, the coupling is done at any time of the year.

Before the coupling, the males reniflent the Urine females to detect the presence of estrogen. If the rate is good and if it wishes to copulate, it will then start to howl and will approach the female and moving its head top downwards to announce to him its intentions. The female has of another choice to only subject itself and a gestation of approximately 200 days will be followed from there. Little before the childbirth, the female will withdraw group and will give rise to its single (sometimes 2) small. It will take care to nourish it and wash it until the age of 4 months and half.

Various facts

  • the impala with black face is regarded as a species in the process of disappearance
  • the longest horns of a impala measured one meter!
  • Impala is a name given by the Zoulou S.
  • Impala is a name-totem frequently given among unionistic scouts of France.

References

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