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Impala
Impala Facts
| Kingdom: Five groups that classify all living things | Animalia |
| Phylum: A group of animals within the animal kingdom | Chordata |
| Class: A group of animals within a pylum | Mammalia |
| Order: A group of animals within a class | Artiodactyla |
| Family: A group of animals within an order | Bovidae |
| Genus: A group of animals within a family | Aepyceros |
| Scientific Name: The name of the animal in science | Aepyceros Melampus |
| Type: The animal group that the species belongs to | Mammal |
| Diet: What kind of foods the animal eats | Herbivore |
| Size: How long (L) or tall (H) the animal is | 68-92cm (27-36in) |
| Weight: The measurement of how heavy the animal is | 37-75kg (81.6-165lbs) |
| Top Speed: The fastest recorded speed of the animal | 48km/h (30mph) |
| Lifespan: How long the animal lives for | 12-15 years |
| Lifestyle: Whether the animal is solitary or sociable | Herd |
| Conservation Status: The likelihood of the animal becoming extinct | Least Concern |
| Colour: The colour of the animal's coat or markings | Tan, Brown, White |
| Skin Type: The protective layer of the animal | Fur |
| Favourite Food: The preferred food of this animal | Grass |
| Habitat: The specific area where the animal lives | Wooded savanna and dense bushland |
| Average Litter Size: The average number of babies born at once | 1 |
| Main Prey: The food that the animal gains energy from | Grass, Seeds, Flowers |
| Predators: Other animals that hunt and eat the animal | Hyena, Lion, Crocodile |
| Special Features: Characteristics unique to this animal | Small and slim body and curved horns |
Impala Location
Map of Africa
Impala
The impala is one of the many species of antelope that is found inhabiting the African wilderness. The impala is a medium-sized antelope that is primarily found in the savannas and thicker bush-land in the more southern parts of the African continent.
The male impala are well-known for their curved horns that are able to reach lengths of around 90 cm which is bigger than the average impala individua! The male impala are known as rams, mainly due to the fact that the male impala use their horns when defending themselves both from other dominant male impala and from oncoming predators. The female impala does not have horns at all and are known as ewes.
The impala is thought to be one of the most adaptable animals living in the African savanna, as the impala is able to change its eating habits with the seasons and depending on what is available in the near surroundings. Impala like to graze on fresh grass but will also nibble on shoots and foliage when there is no grass growing nearby.
The impala has many natural predators in the tough African landscape that include leopards, lions, cheetahs, crocodiles and hyenas. The impala though has a remarkable response when it feels threatened as the impala is able to jump over nine meters in distance and over two meters high. The impala is thought to do this in order to confuse its predators.
The average impala individual lives for around 12 years in the wild, although this varies a great deal as the impala is such substantial prey to many of the carnivorous African predators. Some impala individuals that have been bred in captivity have been known to get to more than 20 years old.
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First Published: 10th March 2009, Last Updated: 8th November 2019
1. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 10 Mar 2009]
2. David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia [Accessed at: 01 Jan 2011]
3. David W. Macdonald, Oxford University Press (2010) The Encyclopedia Of Mammals [Accessed at: 01 Jan 2010]
4. Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 10 Mar 2009]
5. Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species [Accessed at: 10 Mar 2009]
6. Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 10 Mar 2009]
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