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Impala


Impala
Photo Information
Copyright: Sebastien Burel (sburel) Silver Note Writer [C: 2 W: 2 N: 39] (335)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-12-20
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Nikon D70S, Sigma 80-400 OS
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/1000 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-02-03 9:58
Viewed: 1492
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Swahili Name: Swala Pala
Scientific Name: Aepyceros melampus
Size: 28 to 36 inches tall
Weight: 100 to 135 pounds
Lifespan: 12 years
Habitat: Savanna and light woodland
Diet: Grazer/browser
Gestation: Between 6 and 7 months
Predators: Lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, hunting dogs

BEHAVIOR

Their social organization allows impalas to adapt to prevailing environmental conditions. When food is plentiful, the males become territorial. In home ranges averaging 3 square miles, six to eight dominant males set up territories. They stand with erect posture, rub scent from face glands and make dung heaps to mark their territory.

The females form herds of 10 to 50 or more and wander in and out of male territories. If they start to leave the territory, the male tries to herd them back to the center, or he feigns danger just beyond his boundary by taking a stance normally used as a warning sign. He tries to mate with females in estrus and defends his territory from challenging males. Bachelor males are allowed to remain in male territories if they ignore the females.

The territorial male's challenger will have worked his way up through the hierarchy of the bachelor group until he becomes the dominant male. He then leaves the group and challenges a territorial male through horn duels, in which the males approach one another with slow, deliberate steps. At a signal, such as swiveling the eyeballs to show the whites or slightly nodding the head, they rush forward and clash horns, attempting to throw one another off balance. Although fighting can be fatal, males are protected by exceptionally thick skin over vulnerable areas. It is not the length of horn that gives a male the advantage but his condition and weight. When a territorial male begins to lose weight from his frantic activity, he is defeated and must return to the bachelor group to recuperate. There are times, however, when this territorial system is not maintained. In drier years the animals have to travel further to obtain food, and many smaller herds of females form. They move in and out of the territories so often that the males are very quickly exhausted. When this happens, territories are abandoned, and large, mixed tranquil herds of females and males form. When feed conditions improve, impalas revert to the territorial system.

adapted from http://www.awf.org/wildlives/143
slrnovice2, goutham_ramesh, ellis49 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

magnifique sebastien
tres bonne netteté et beaux details.
laurent

Sebastien, great image. I think the crop is a little too tight top and bottom. Otherwise, great. I love the lighting, the warm tones, detail and DOF. The pose is lovely too. Beautiful and a terrific note too :)

Hi,

Excellent picture, pity that you have missed the horn( Or was it intentional?) I feel the horn should have been included!

TFS
Goutham R

  • Great 
  • mrcrow Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 428 W: 114 N: 193] (3002)
  • [2006-02-03 13:21]

the wildlife shot on this forum keep getting better...and this is a tops shot...teaches me some lessons in quality exposure and framing...and getting all the horns in..:)
its ok...i do it every time..
thanks for a great portrait

  • Great 
  • tinman Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 242 W: 7 N: 458] (2663)
  • [2006-02-03 15:46]

Super animal - pity you have lost the top of the horns and it a touch soft in focus. The grass doesn't bother me as this is the natural type of sighting. TFS

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1494 W: 0 N: 1175] (6494)
  • [2006-02-03 16:10]

Beautiful image well captured with nice colour and good DOF.
Thanks for sharing!

  • Great 
  • reina Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 260 W: 1 N: 328] (2024)
  • [2006-02-03 18:16]

Hi Sebastian, well done, I like the surroundings, very nice impression.
Congratulations and thanks for sharing Reina

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1575 W: 5 N: 2181] (12252)
  • [2006-02-03 18:47]

Bonne prise nature,le spécimen est très joli et l'environnement est naturel.


Félicitations et merci pour l'envoie Sébastien!


joseph

Hi Sebastien,
it's a very good picture of this Impala, you show thw environs well but it's pity you cut the antlers and it's a bit at the bottom too, even if the legs are covered is good to have room for the legs.
Very good POV, nice colours and good detials.
Very well done.

Its is a lovely picture, Try having more space on all sides , The information is real good. Over all a good picture with good details except on the mission horn.

TFS

Pawan

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