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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Being near the bottom of the food chain and having an M for Macdonalds fast food on your rump means that you have to be alert for any danger and use your senses to the utmost. This Impala looks as if he has detected some predator nearby and is looking,listening and smelling to find out what is happening.
Impala
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An impala (Aepyceros melampus Greek aipos "high" ceros "horn" + melas "black" pous "foot") is a medium-sized African antelope. The name impala comes from the Zulu language. They are found in savannas and thick bushveld in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, northern Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, southern Angola, northeastern South Africa and Uganda (the source of that country's capital city's name - Kampala).
Appearance
Average mass for an Impala is approximately 75 kilograms. They are reddish-brown in color with lighter flanks, have white underbellies and a characteristic "M" marking on its rear. Males have lyre-shaped horns which can reach up to 90 centimeters in length.
Ecology
Impala are among the dominant species in many savannas. They can adapt to different environment by being grazers in some areas and browsers in others. They graze when the grass is green and growing and browse at other times. They will browse on formcsgaybs, shoots, bacon, seedpods and foliage.
Herds will use specific areas for their excrement. Impala are active during both day and night and are dependent on water. A herd is normally an indicator of water close by. Impala can thrive in areas where pure grazers can not survive.
When frightened or startled the whole impala herd starts leaping about in order to confuse their predator. They can jump distances more than 9 meters (30 feet) and 2.5 meters (8 feet) high. Leopards, cheetah, Nile crocodiles, lions, spotted hyenas and wild dogs prey on impala. |
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Nicely done, Robin
Good close up in which the black eye is very attractive.
TFS
Annick
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