Male ram Impala gazelle attractive antlers Northern Akagera National Park game reserve Rwanda Central Africa
Male ram Impala Aepyceros melampus gazelle mature antlers Northern Akagera National Game Reserve/Park Rwanda Central Africa The average mass for a male impala is 40 to 75 kg (88 to 165 lb), while females weigh about 30 to 50 kg The coat is short and glossy, normally reddish-brown in colour adaptive forager. Only the male, referred to as the ram, has lyre-shaped horns, which can reach up to 45–92 cm in length. The female, referred to as the ewe without horns. When frightened or startled, the whole herd starts leaping about to confuse their predator. Able to jump distances of more than 10 m (33 ft) and 3 m (9 ft) into the air, threatened impalas will explode in a magnificent spectacle of leaping. Sometimes this is done with the animals holding their leg stiffly and the neck arched downwards, a behaviour known as stotting or pronking. The impala can reach running speeds in a zig-zag of about 60 km/h (37 mph) on average with the peak on 80 km/h (50 mph) to escape its predators. When escaping from predators, it can release a scent from glands on its heels, which can help it stay with the group. This is done by performing a high kick of its hind legs. Males which mature are forced out of the group and will join bachelor herds. Young male impalas which have been made to leave their previous herd form bachelor herds of around 30 individuals. Males that are able to dominate their herd are contenders for assuming control of a territory. The common impala is one of the most abundant antelopes in Africa, with about one-quarter of the population occurring in protected areas. Territorial males round up any female herds that enter their grounds, and will chase away bachelor males that follow. They will even chase away recently weaned males. A male impala tries to prevent any female from leaving his territory. During the dry seasons, territories are abandoned, as herds must travel farther to find food.
Size: 3436px × 2848px
Location: Northern Akagera National Game Park Rwanda Central Africa
Photo credit: © Roland Pargeter / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 30, 40, 50, 75, aepyceros, africa, akagera, antlers, average, central, coat, females, forager, game, gazelle, glossy, impala, kg, male, mass, mature, melampus, national, northern, ram, reddish-brown, reserve/park, rwanda, short, weigh
