The impala ( Aepyceros melampus ) is a swift and graceful antelope found in large herds on the savannas and open woodlands of central and southern Africa. Impalas are known for their jumping ability, leaping up to 10 feet high and 30 feet long when alarmed. They are medium-sized with slender legs and a long neck, standing around 30–40 inches (75-100 cm) high at the shoulder. Their coat is golden to reddish-brown with white underparts and black markings on the thighs and hind feet. Only males have long, lyre-shaped horns, which can be as long as 18–36 inches.

Where do impalas live?

Impalas, known for their grace and speed, are commonly found in large herds on the savannas and open woodlands of eastern and southern Africa. They are especially abundant in these areas, typically staying close to water sources. As an edge species, the impala thrives in the ecotone between woodland and grassland. They have a two-toned coat that is tan with a red-brown saddle and white markings on different parts of their body. Male impalas have wide, lyrate horns that can be as long as 45–91 cm. When alarmed, impalas can leap up to 3 meters high and 10 meters long.

The impala is a mixed feeder, meaning that its diet consists of both grass and browse, depending on the season. During the rainy season, impalas primarily graze on grass . However, during the dry season, they adapt to the changing environment by switching to browse . This adaptability allows the impala to thrive even in areas where grass is scarce due to livestock or distance from water.

How do impalas protect themselves from predators?

Impalas possess several adaptations to protect themselves from predators. They are exceptionally vigilant and compensate for being vulnerable to ambushes by running in all directions, confusing attackers. When alarmed, impalas are noted for their jumping ability; they bound off in leaps up to 33 feet (10 m) long and 10 feet (3 m) high as they soar over bushes. They are swift-running antelopes found in the savannas of eastern and southern Africa. Impalas are gregarious antelopes that live in large herds, and their habit of feeding in bushed areas makes them vulnerable to predators.

What do male and female impalas look like?

Male and female impalas share a sleek, two-toned coat that is tan with a red-brown saddle. White markings appear as eye lines, the inside of the ears, a throat patch, and the underside of the torso and bushy tail. Black markings include the crown between the ears, the ear tips, vertical stripes down the thighs and tail, and tufts on the back feet. However, males are about 20 percent heavier than females and have wide, lyrate horns that can grow to be 18–36 inches long, the largest antelope horns in East Africa. Impalas are swift-running antelopes that are most abundant in the savannas of eastern and southern Africa. When alarmed, they can leap up to 30 feet long and 10 feet high.

How do impalas communicate and live together in groups?

Impalas are social antelopes that live in herds, using various communication methods to maintain their groups. During mating season, males puff and grunt, flagging their tails to attract females and ward off rivals. These antelopes also have scent glands on their hind feet, though the purpose is not fully known. Many antelopes use scent marking from preorbital glands and fecal middens to mark their territories. Living in large herds helps impalas to be vigilant against predators. When threatened, they scatter in different directions, jumping as high as 3 meters and as far as 10 meters to confuse predators.

impala

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Study how a herd of impalas communicate through a variety of behaviors and signals

Illustration showing seven different male antelope species, including gerenuk, impala, Thomson's gazelle, common eland, saiga, suni, and blackbuck, each labeled with their scientific names and depicted in natural poses on grass.

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impala

mammal

Also known as: Aepyceros melampus

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Richard Estes

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Top Questions

What is an impala?
The impala (Aepyceros melampus) is a swift and graceful antelope found in large herds on the savannas and open woodlands of central and southern Africa. Impalas are known for their jumping ability, leaping up to 10 feet high and 30 feet long when alarmed. They are medium-sized with slender legs and a long neck, standing around 30–40 inches (75-100 cm) high at the shoulder. Their coat is golden to reddish-brown with white underparts and black markings on the thighs and hind feet. Only males have long, lyre-shaped horns, which can be as long as 18–36 inches.
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Where do impalas live?
Impalas, known for their grace and speed, are commonly found in large herds on the savannas and open woodlands of eastern and southern Africa. They are especially abundant in these areas, typically staying close to water sources. As an edge species, the impala thrives in the ecotone between woodland and grassland. They have a two-toned coat that is tan with a red-brown saddle and white markings on different parts of their body. Male impalas have wide, lyrate horns that can be as long as 45–91 cm. When alarmed, impalas can leap up to 3 meters high and 10 meters long.
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What do impalas eat?
The impala is a mixed feeder, meaning that its diet consists of both grass and browse, depending on the season. During the rainy season, impalas primarily graze on grass. However, during the dry season, they adapt to the changing environment by switching to browse. This adaptability allows the impala to thrive even in areas where grass is scarce due to livestock or distance from water.
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How do impalas protect themselves from predators?
Impalas possess several adaptations to protect themselves from predators. They are exceptionally vigilant and compensate for being vulnerable to ambushes by running in all directions, confusing attackers. When alarmed, impalas are noted for their jumping ability; they bound off in leaps up to 33 feet (10 m) long and 10 feet (3 m) high as they soar over bushes. They are swift-running antelopes found in the savannas of eastern and southern Africa. Impalas are gregarious antelopes that live in large herds, and their habit of feeding in bushed areas makes them vulnerable to predators.
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What do male and female impalas look like?
Male and female impalas share a sleek, two-toned coat that is tan with a red-brown saddle. White markings appear as eye lines, the inside of the ears, a throat patch, and the underside of the torso and bushy tail. Black markings include the crown between the ears, the ear tips, vertical stripes down the thighs and tail, and tufts on the back feet.

However, males are about 20 percent heavier than females and have wide, lyrate horns that can grow to be 18–36 inches long, the largest antelope horns in East Africa. Impalas are swift-running antelopes that are most abundant in the savannas of eastern and southern Africa. When alarmed, they can leap up to 30 feet long and 10 feet high.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Did you know?
2. impala
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How do impalas communicate and live together in groups?
Impalas are social antelopes that live in herds, using various communication methods to maintain their groups. During mating season, males puff and grunt, flagging their tails to attract females and ward off rivals.

These antelopes also have scent glands on their hind feet, though the purpose is not fully known. Many antelopes use scent marking from preorbital glands and fecal middens to mark their territories.

Living in large herds helps impalas to be vigilant against predators. When threatened, they scatter in different directions, jumping as high as 3 meters and as far as 10 meters to confuse predators.
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impala, (Aepyceros melampus), swift-running antelope, the most abundant ruminant in the savannas of eastern and southern Africa. It is often seen in large breeding herds closely shepherded by a territorial male. The impala can be described as perfection in an antelope; it is both beautiful and athletic—a world-class high jumper. Having no close relatives, it is placed in its own tribe, Aepycerotini, of the family Bovidae.

Medium-sized with slender, evenly developed legs and a long neck, the impala stands 70–92 cm (28–36 inches) and weighs 40–76 kg (88–167 pounds). Males are about 20 percent heavier than females and have wide, lyrate horns 45–91 cm (18–36 inches) or longer, the largest antelope horns in East Africa. The sexes are coloured alike with a sleek, two-toned coat that is tan with a red-brown saddle. White markings include the eye line, the inside of the ears, a throat patch, the underside of the torso, and a bushy tail; black markings include the crown between the ears, the ear tips, vertical stripes down the highs and tail, and prominent tufts on the back feet, which overlie scent glands of unknown function. The black-faced impala (Aepyceros melampus petersi) of southwest Africa is a comparatively rare subspecies coveted by trophy hunters.

An “edge” species that prefers the ecotone between woodland and grassland, the impala is a mixed feeder that eats grass during the rainy season and switches to browse during the dry season. Despite habitat restrictions, its catholic diet makes the impala unusually adaptable; it can even subsist in areas stripped of grass by livestock and located far from water.

Young chimpanzee dressed in a shirt and sweater vest, scratching his head thinking. (primates)

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The impala is a seasonal breeder that mates during the rains and births six months later, near the end of the dry season. During the rut, breeding males are highly vociferous: both territorial bulls and bachelors puff and grunt furiously as they run about flagging their white tails. The territorial proprietors try to keep bachelors separate from the herds of females and young. Large herds of up to 100 impalas enhance male sexual competition, and exhaustion causes rapid territorial turnovers. In southern Africa, territorial behaviour nearly ceases after the annual rut, though the maintenance of roadside dung middens attests to continuing space claims. Populations near the Equator have two mating and birth peaks, and males remain territorial the whole year. More sustained sexual competition could explain the bigger horns of East African impalas.

Young impalas hide in woodland or bush often for only a few days before joining a crèche of same-aged fawns that associate and socialize with one another more than with their own mothers. Large herds, tolerance of close packing by females, and tit-for-tat social grooming of both sexes and all ages distinguish the impala as one of the most gregarious antelopes. Where it is abundant, it is a preferred prey of carnivores that range in size from eagles (which prey on fawns) to lions, and its habit of feeding in bushed areas makes it unusually vulnerable to ambush and surprise. However, impalas compensate by being exceptionally vigilant, and they confuse attackers by running in all directions as they soar over bushes with jumps up to 3 metres (10 feet) high and 10 metres (33 feet) long.

Richard Estes

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