Overview
Similar to the Southern impala, except that its general color is less reddish and more purplish, and it has a well-defined blackish blaze on the middle of the face below the eyes, more black on the tip of the ears, and a longer, very bushy tail. A certain percentage of Southern Impalas (A. m. melampus)-notably in the Transvaal in South Africa-exhibit facial blazes of varying extent and blackness that are similar to those of the Black-faced Impala (A. m. petersi). The Record Book does not accept these South African specimens as Black-faced, because the Black-faced is not indigenous in South Africa, nor has it been introduced there. Simply because an impala has a dark facial blaze does not necessarily mean it is an Black-faced Impala.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Bovidae
- Genus
- Aepyceros
- Species
- Aepyceros melampus
Habitat
Dense vegetation. Distribution- Natural populations are now limited to southwestern Angola and extreme northwestern Namibia, particularly along the Cunene River, which forms the border between these two countries in the west.
Diet
This animal both grazes and browses based on seasonal availability.
Behavior
Very social herd animals.
Hunting
Spot and stalk methods, and hunting over water sources.
Conservation Status
This subspecies is listed as Vulnerable by IUCN, with an expected total population of 3,000-4,000 adults.