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The impala or rooibok (Aepyceros melampus, lit. 'black-footed high-horn' in Ancient Greek) is a medium-sized antelope found in eastern and southern Africa. The only extant member of the genus Aepyceros , and tribe Aepycerotini , it was first described to Europeans by German zoologist Hinrich Lichtenstein in 1812.
Antelope are not a cladistic or taxonomically defined group. [5] The term is used to describe all members of the family Bovidae that do not fall under the category of sheep, cattle, or goats. Usually, all species of the Antilopinae, Hippotraginae, Reduncinae, Cephalophinae, many Bovinae, the grey rhebok, and the impala are called antelope.
Though not an antelope, it is known colloquially in North America as the American antelope, prong buck, pronghorn antelope and prairie antelope, [5] because it closely resembles the antelopes of the Old World and fills a similar ecological niche due to parallel evolution. [6] It is the only surviving member of the family Antilocapridae. [7]
The actual explanation is far more interesting. Credit: Alison Buttigieg The story claims that the impala -- sometimes falsely called a deer -- sacrificed herself to the cheetahs to save her young.
A small fast antelope, the Thomson's gazelle is said to have top speeds up to 80–90 km/h (50–55 mph). It is the fourth-fastest land animal, after the cheetah (its main predator), pronghorn , and springbok .
Stotting occurs in several deer species of North America, including mule deer, pronghorn, [3] and Columbian black-tailed deer, when a predator is particularly threatening, [4] and in a variety of ungulate species from Africa, including Thomson's gazelle and springbok. [5] It is also said to occur in the blackbuck, a species found in India. [6]
Some like the impala, kudu, and eland can even leap to heights of a few feet. [32] Bovids may roar or grunt to caution others and warn off predators. [ 3 ] Bovids such as gazelles stot or pronk in response to predators, making high leaps on stiff legs, indicating honestly both that the predator has been seen, and that the stotting individual is ...
A dik-dik is the name for any of four species of small antelope in the genus Madoqua, which live in the bushlands of eastern and southern Africa. [1]Dik-diks stand about 30–40 centimetres (12–15.5 in) at the shoulder, are 50–70 cm (19.5–27.5 in) long, weigh 3–6 kilograms (6.6–13.2 lb) and can live for up to 10 years.