German zoologist Hinrich Lichtenstein first described the impala to European science in 1812. He named the creature Aepyceros melampus, which translates from Ancient Greek as 'black-footed high-horn'. This scientific name remains valid today for the only living member of its genus and tribe.
Males grow slender lyre-shaped horns that reach lengths up to 63 centimeters while females remain hornless and stand significantly shorter than their male counterparts. Females weigh around 40 kilograms compared to the 50 to 60 kilograms typical for males. The coat displays glossy reddish brown on the back contrasting sharply with tan flanks and a white underbelly.
Impalas can jump up to three meters high over vegetation or even other impala covering horizontal distances of five meters. Another leap involves landing on forelegs then kicking hind legs mid-air before rebounding fully. These movements likely confuse hunters attempting to catch them.
An annual three-week-long rut begins toward the end of the wet season typically in May. Gonadal growth and hormone production start months earlier resulting in greater aggressiveness and territoriality. Mating tends to occur between full moons when mature males fight for dominance using noisy roars and stiff walks.
The black-faced subspecies remains confined to southwestern Angola and Kaokoland in northwestern Namibia where fewer than 1,000 individuals existed as of 2008. Historical ranges span from central Kenya to northern KwaZulu-Natal extending westward to Namibia and southern Angola. Fewer than 1,000 remain in the wild as of 2008 making it a vulnerable species.