@jandutoit @variani18 @nyoni-pete @tonyrebelo @jeremygilmore @matthewinabinett @botswanabugs @beartracker @simontonge @dejong @capracornelius @paradoxornithidae @muir
At first sight, impalas (Aepyceros) seem to be rather plain-coloured ruminants (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/66064514 and https://www.dreamstime.com/closeup-impala-closeup-impala-scientific-name-aepyceros-melampus-swala-pala-swaheli-image-taken-safari-located-image200322382 and https://www.dreamstime.com/typical-male-impala-broadside-closeup-male-impala-scientific-name-aepyceros-melampus-swala-pala-swaheli-serengeti-image301832285 and https://www.alamy.com/masai-mara-impala-standing-in-the-park-image479285388.html?imageid=DEA64DC0-E980-45AF-AFFC-E63B7E1CB7B9&p=1889974&pn=6&searchId=0171166ff0fdcc816dc79c8195263b39&searchtype=0).
Furthermore, colouration is remarkably similar
However, there are several medium- to small-scale patterns, which function mainly to accentuate postures and movements in social and sexual interactions, intraspecifically.
Indeed, impalas may perhaps possess
BLEEZES:
There are no bleezes in impalas.
This can be illustrated by comparison with
LATERAL FLAG:
The lateral flag in impalas consists of a relatively pale, crisply-defined panel on the flanks, extending towards the scapula.
The pattern of pigmentation on the flanks is extremely consistent among individuals, and identical between the sexes. It can be thought of as the ultimate 'uniform' of adults of impalas.
In this respect, Aepyceros differs from Gazella and Nanger, in which the pigmentation on the flanks is individually (and in some spp. sexually) variable.
Despite this uniformity w.r.t. pigmentation, there is significant variation in appearance, depending on illumination.
When the pelage of the torso is piloerected (typically in the early morning light), the back and upper flanks are darkened by an effect converse to sheen (https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/young-female-impala-antelopes-safari-park-473817538 and https://www.dreamstime.com/african-impala-feeding-grasslands-savannah-south-africa-kruguer-national-park-very-fast-typical-antelope-image252124011 and https://www.sabisabi.com/discover/topics/impalas). This does not necessarily confer conspicuousness.
However, when the pelage of the torso is sleek in the heat of the day, the relatively pale panel on the flanks shows a sheen effect in certain illuminations. This 'pallid flank-band' may possibly be conspicuous enough to qualify as a flag.
There is a small patch of dark, bare skin at the stifle-fold (https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-impala-ram-aepyceros-melampus-kruger-national-park-south-africa-55990976.html?imageid=B84F6F3F-A4BD-4811-9BE6-4910F1A97575&p=89162&pn=6&searchId=0171166ff0fdcc816dc79c8195263b39&searchtype=0 and https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/impala-177447278 and https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/female-impala-heard-wild-tanzania-africa-490988971 and https://www.alamy.com/stock-image-male-impala-standing-in-shade-facing-camera-169047114.html?imageid=E4DFD473-7DB4-4C76-9E38-DC07A444D884&p=359028&pn=1&searchId=2051f956df0f9901d2d41458e7158e6f&searchtype=0 and https://facts.net/nature/animals/18-facts-about-antelope/). The function of this is puzzling. However, it potentially serves to 'punctuate' the lateral flag.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/143987159
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10937414
https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-image-grazing-impalas-image17951726
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/4877608
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/1500408
https://vaido.aminus3.com/image/2019-08-08.html
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-impala-antelopes-kruger-national-park-image64547334
The lateral flag is unapparent in wet weather (https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/impala_3015_ma-royalty-free-image/520064866?adppopup=true).
ANTERIOR AURICULAR FLAG:
The anterior surface of the ear pinnae of impalas has a pattern of dark and pale (actually nearly black-and-white, https://www.dreamstime.com/impala-black-faced-aepyceros-melampus-petersi-image129022782 and https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-female-impala-portrait-taken-nairobi-national-park-kenya-photograph-taken-face-has-wonderfully-soft-bokeh-image84212780 and https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-images-impala-wildlife-background-africa-funny-nature-ewe-chews-open-mouth-creating-image-fun-humor-as-seen-image35306109 and https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photography-impala-ewe-portrait-image10434177 and https://www.alamy.com/female-impala-in-the-wild-image241774765.html?imageid=D9D12AC3-1E7A-4A65-AF44-143AB6B8EC8B&p=566502&pn=1&searchId=4dd898aca9c1f5238216f36748d13aa1&searchtype=0).
This is small-scale enough that it potentially contributes to camouflage-colouration (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Impala_ewe_behind.jpg).
However, it is large-scale enough to draw attention to the animal when the ears/head are moved on an otherwise stationary figure, in direct illumination.
The following nicely shows the difference between a carnivore, in which the front-of-ear has cryptic colouration, and an impala:
https://www.dreamstime.com/lion-walking-front-herd-impalas-lion-walking-front-herd-impala-chobe-national-park-botswana-image99984947
The following shows that the front-of-ear is more conspicuous than the pattern on the buttocks (https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/antelopes-in-the-kruger-national-park-south-africa-gm855954258-141001637?phrase=impala+calf&searchscope=image%2Cfilm).
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/196171207
The skin on the front-of-ear is visible only when the whitish hair-panels piloerect to expose bare tracts. This occurs probably only in hot weather, when the radiative thermoregulatory mechanism is activated. The bare skin is then revealed to be flesh-coloured, not pigmented (Aepyceros petersi: https://www.alamy.com/black-faced-impala-etosha-namibia-august-2018-image398762437.html?imageid=18595578-042F-473D-9E0C-595D8F785C3C&p=557829&pn=4&searchId=f9415a767c0642ef78c594ff67510d1a&searchtype=0 and https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/impala-looking-straight-camera-kruger-national-1719317839).
POSTERIOR CORONAL FLAG:
This pattern is a function of sheen (possibly including ultraviolet), rather than depigmentation/pigmentation.
Please focus on the posterior surface of the crown of the head, plus the adjacent surfaces on the nape and the posterior of the ears, in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CGoEJtE9X8.
Also please note:
https://www.dreamstime.com/impala-looking-out-danger-image183413992
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-image-impala-south-africa-s-image7623741
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/155879893
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/67574563
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/91859769
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/107525771
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/172686553
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/188096583
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/174649718
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/161370714
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/152034681
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/143987108
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/127988480
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/108123388
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/124925975
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110006406
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/105794590
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/105452142
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/98078027
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/89832137
https://www.dreamstime.com/lot-impala-antelopes-grass-landscape-kenyan-savanna-image148056738
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/7309291
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/11069915
For comparison, the following show similar views but without the sheen effect:
https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photo-african-impala-image9762415 and https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/impala-mirror-reflection-royalty-free-image/98539628?adppopup=true and https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-impala-aepyceros-melampus-females-masai-mara-game-reserve-kenya-88607324.html?imageid=F45D9D4C-FD25-4313-A080-6C07567FD7C1&p=269351&pn=12&searchId=7dc11c78361bd5df1ff35974e5ef97a8&searchtype=0 and https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-female-black-faced-impala-lined-up-to-drink-at-waterhole-92886401.html?imageid=23535364-258D-46C0-A328-BBD180DCCFD9&p=45259&pn=2&searchId=1f5542e7213ab29c0373963d6ec132b5&searchtype=0 and https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-impala-antilopes-national-park-masai-mara-kenya-image72425093 and https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/34869308 and https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/11187976
PEDAL FLAG:
The pasterns (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastern) are whitish, the pallor resulting from both depigmentation and sheen.
There is an individually variable tendency - particularly in juveniles - to dark emphasis on the anterior surface of the fetlocks (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetlock and https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-images-puku-image28618764 and https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photos-puku-grazing-image28618738).
On the hindfeet, the metatarsal glands have dark tufts (https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/metatarsal-glands-on-impalas-back-legs-2337218443 and https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-impala-legs-mkuze-national-park-south-africa-image54790604 and https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/metatarsal-glands-on-impalas-back-legs-2337218443 and https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/845707).
The fetlocks are dark at the positions of the (absent) false-hooves. The dark spot on each foot is medial (single not paired).
On the hindfeet, the dark spot on the fetlock connects with the dark of the metatarsal tufts. The resulting dark/pale contrast may accentuate the pedal flag when viewed from behind (https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/the-impala-is-a-medium-sized-african-antelope-ol-pejeta-conservancy-kenya-male-animal-gm1439084469-479434252 and https://www.alamy.com/female-impala-aepyceros-melampus-in-the-dessert-captive-distribution-africa-image565661183.html?imageid=EA3F40A5-8BFC-4747-8ACA-AC18FC5A0F95&p=816634&pn=1&searchId=2c70548f127dc53b817942155023dd85&searchtype=0 and https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/105527064).
The pedal flag is dependent on illumination. It is conspicuous mainly owing to
However, a puzzling aspect is that the sheen is evident even in shade, as opposed to direct sunlight. This in turn suggests that the pedal flag may remain conspicuous at night. What kind of sheen-effect is this?
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/149646826
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/142370555
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/142136628
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/141892335
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/132672095
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/105527064
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/101359100
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/98197075
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/73952189
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/56613497
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-impala-antilopes-national-park-masai-mara-kenya-image72425258
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/33839351
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10593664
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10525863
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/8926845
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/197879541
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/197084898
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/1380182
Aepyceros petersi: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/108844718
to be continued in https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/milewski/89674-bleezes-flags-and-semets-in-the-adaptive-colouration-of-impalas-aepyceros-part-2#...
Comments
The following, of adult male Aepyceros melampus, shows the typical pattern of white at and near the elbow. This subtle pattern has yet to be interpreted in adaptive terms.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/6486815
The following, of adult female Aepyceros melampus, shows kick-stotting, probably in play rather than in reaction to a predator. The point to note is the tail is not being displayed at this moment.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/6484990
Antidorcas marsupialis hofmeyri and Panthera leo:
https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/lion-lioness-nxai-pan-makgadikgadi-pan-national-royalty-free-image/130875422?adppopup=true
https://matirasafari.com/impala-the-perfect-antelope/?lang=en
Aepyceros petersi, showing vertically-piloerected caudal flag, including during kick-stotting:
https://www.offset.com/photos/black-faced-impala-aepyceros-melamis-petersi-female-jumping-etosha-627551
https://www.alamy.com/black-faced-impala-aepyceros-melamis-petersi-female-jumping-etosha-national-park-namibia-image262911368.html?imageid=142CA3C7-9E3F-4E77-BC7F-A26E31E76766&p=2080&pn=6&searchId=e9ed0bac00b4e168386089273c945e71&searchtype=0
https://www.alamy.com/black-faced-impala-aepyceros-melamis-petersi-female-jumping-etosha-national-park-namibia-image262911369.html?imageid=76E0033C-96ED-4AB6-AC02-B6980CA20B7A&p=2080&pn=7&searchId=ae880af1fd61c0455cbecb5723d2b621&searchtype=0
The following, of adult male individuals of Aepyceros melampus, shows a fortuitous perspective. It would facilitate the comparison of body proportions between infants and adults.
https://www.offset.com/photos/impala-aepyceros-melampus-mashatu-game-reserve-botswana-africa-980875
The following illustrates a certain ambivalence between stotting and bounding in Aepyceros:
https://www.offset.com/photos/three-impalas-from-the-offset-collection-263055
Please scroll to the second photo in https://hesc.co.za/impala-with-a-difference/.
This shows that, in albinism, the bare patch at the stifle-fold remains somewhat dark, whereas the skin on the front-of-ear is unambivalently pale. Also please note that the skin shows through the thin pelage at the junction of buttocks and upper legs.
The following anthropogenic mutations are significant w.r.t. the lateral flag in Aepyceros:
https://www.svgb.co.za/product/white-flank-impala-ram-23-5/
https://www.kwambilisafarilodge.com/white-flanked-impala/
https://www.wits.ac.za/news/latest-news/research-news/2020/2020-10/dietary-migration-of-krugers-impala-rivals-the-geographical-migration-of-the-serengeti-wildebeest.html
https://afrizim.com/travel-guides/animals/impala.html
Aepyceros petersi and Antidorcas marsupialis hofmeyri:
https://www.alamy.com/springbok-and-impala-in-namibia-image440328556.html?imageid=EF46D79D-68A0-4071-9A2D-241BA72116F6&p=170105&pn=1&searchId=4dd898aca9c1f5238216f36748d13aa1&searchtype=0
Adult male Antidorcas marsupialis marsupialis:
https://www.alamy.com/springbok-in-the-mountain-zebra-national-park-image385819462.html?imageid=CA7277FD-D5F9-4B3C-8DCF-89DE563BC1EC&p=339178&pn=1&searchId=4dd898aca9c1f5238216f36748d13aa1&searchtype=0
KOBUS LECHE
https://www.alamy.com/aerial-view-of-impala-standing-in-a-watering-hole-on-the-savanna-of-the-okavango-delta-in-botswana-image360625636.html?imageid=7CDDAD0B-5C14-47E0-A6A7-F87DB166FA6E&p=1297721&pn=2&searchId=905c31201f0030d95639b366c64aa2c0&searchtype=0
https://www.alamy.com/wild-impala-antelope-in-african-botswana-savannah-image227508191.html?imageid=F481CDA2-67F3-4A7E-AED0-7DF5A01B19E2&p=773197&pn=3&searchId=80f770f60a2769ad720b118d19b0a2d2&searchtype=0
AEPYCEROS PETERSI
https://www.dreamstime.com/male-black-faced-impala-antelope-etosha-aepyceros-melampus-petersi-national-park-namibia-image271168618
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-black-faced-impala-aepyceros-melampus-petersi-adult-male-on-stony-134247981.html?imageid=33D80ADC-8AD4-4E1C-886E-85F361A2C102&p=642197&pn=4&searchId=f9415a767c0642ef78c594ff67510d1a&searchtype=0
https://www.alamy.com/black-faced-impala-fighting-image225891957.html?imageid=9DB8AF44-F73F-4904-A79E-BF8E0A78E0FB&p=95934&pn=1&searchId=2cfc4de9b1aacee4e55653a80467551f&searchtype=0
https://www.alamy.com/black-faced-impala-fighting-image225892035.html?imageid=519E6A42-637C-4738-9AC3-2974B0B4D048&p=95934&pn=2&searchId=1f5542e7213ab29c0373963d6ec132b5&searchtype=0
AEPYCEROS PETERSI
The stalk of the tail is slightly broader than in Aepyceros melampus, almost completely covering the bare skin around the anus:
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-black-faced-impala-aepyceros-melampus-petersi-immature-male-standing-33124286.html?imageid=4B429A28-CB7B-4A9C-A4A5-74DD861B7EE2&p=95996&pn=11&searchId=3171fbca0bc4b0c09555c7c4a4e262c7&searchtype=0
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-tail-of-black-faced-impala-135416572.html?imageid=CDBB2EDA-B936-4335-A0D4-A6A89E094F89&p=163524&pn=1&searchId=2cfc4de9b1aacee4e55653a80467551f&searchtype=0
Aepyceros melampus melampus and Giraffa giraffa giraffa:
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-giraffe-and-impala-103341387.html?imageid=34FF064D-F84F-4986-BD5C-948701A1A9DE&p=310217&pn=6&searchId=e9ed0bac00b4e168386089273c945e71&searchtype=0
The following, of Aepyceros melampus, show a) in the first photo, the penicillate caudal flag, and b) in the second photo, an intermediate between the penicillate caudal flag and the vertically-piloerected caudal flag. The latter is revealing in that it shows that what are vertically piloerected are a panel of long, white hairs on the left side, and another on the right side, the two being brought together into a single 'blade' similar to that of a butcher's cleaver.
https://www.alamy.com/impala-aepyceros-melampus-juvenile-male-leaping-selous-game-reserve-tanzania-image263059059.html?imageid=1057AF23-BA5F-4098-96F2-1D1734421A72&p=215411&pn=8&searchId=a070cd5329fc32fad5b6e81e3528abb8&searchtype=0
https://www.alamy.com/young-female-impala-aepyceros-melampus-leaping-samburu-game-reserve-kenya-october-image263022695.html?imageid=C7883AE1-9B86-4181-A99C-DC73D9EA5CFD&p=1365&pn=8&searchId=a070cd5329fc32fad5b6e81e3528abb8&searchtype=0
Aepyceros petersi:
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-black-faced-impala-aepyceros-melampus-petersi-male-etosha-national-72639101.html?imageid=F907DB40-DF72-4AF9-B10F-9163266FCA34&p=58296&pn=14&searchId=a05d6a8d55f3be9564572bdd663ade55&searchtype=0
https://www.alamy.com/black-faced-impala-aepyceros-melampus-petersi-male-etosha-national-park-namibia-image567303101.html?imageid=5772895A-B469-406A-B5A0-EFA2FF962A3A&p=2178539&pn=14&searchId=a05d6a8d55f3be9564572bdd663ade55&searchtype=0
https://www.onekindplanet.org/animal/impala/
https://www.africanflyingadventures.com/life-and-death-in-the-bush-impala/
https://africafreak.com/impala
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/photo-of-the-day/photo/impala-wildlife-delta-botswana
https://www.mindenpictures.com/stock-photo-impala-aepyceros-melampus-female-jumping-chobe-national-park-botswana-naturephotography-image00545091.html
https://www.vecteezy.com/photo/15398315-south-african-impala-deer
https://a-z-animals.com/animals/impala/
https://depositphotos.com/photo/springbok-etosha-national-park-686005122.html
Kobus vardoni stotting
https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-images-jumping-safety-image1304619
https://www.dreamstime.com/implala-jump-grass-savannah-okavango-south-africa-impala-golden-beautiful-evening-sun-animal-nature-habitat-image198581342
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-images-impala-rear-image1415424
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-images-springboks-etosha-africa-image7526404
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-male-impala-antelope-big-horns-savannah-image54205809
Kobus kob thomasi:
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-image-impala-antelope-uganda-africa-image26293481
Ourebia:
https://www.dreamstime.com/impala-antelope-murchison-falls-national-park-uganda-africa-impala-antelope-wildlife-image219403600
GAZELLA GAZELLA
https://www.dreamstime.com/beautiful-impala-antelope-african-landscape-scenery-high-quality-photo-beautiful-impala-antelope-african-landscape-image243672795
https://www.dreamstime.com/beautiful-impala-antelope-african-landscape-scenery-beautiful-impala-antelope-african-landscape-scenery-high-quality-image243660982
https://www.dreamstime.com/beautiful-impala-antelope-african-landscape-scenery-high-quality-photo-beautiful-impala-antelope-african-landscape-image243918356
https://www.dreamstime.com/beautiful-impala-antelope-african-landscape-scenery-high-quality-photo-beautiful-impala-antelope-african-landscape-image243800858
https://www.dreamstime.com/beautiful-impala-antelope-african-landscape-scenery-beautiful-impala-antelope-african-landscape-scenery-high-quality-image243813803
https://www.dreamstime.com/beautiful-impala-antelope-african-landscape-scenery-high-quality-photo-beautiful-impala-antelope-african-landscape-image243918314
https://www.dreamstime.com/beautiful-impala-antelope-african-landscape-scenery-beautiful-impala-antelope-african-landscape-scenery-high-quality-image243762321
https://www.dreamstime.com/beautiful-impala-antelope-african-landscape-scenery-beautiful-impala-antelope-african-landscape-scenery-high-quality-image243762495
Nanger granti:
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photography-impala-antelope-image29223362
Infants of Aepyceros melampus:
https://www.dreamstime.com/impala-calf-baby-antelope-wilderness-africa-image174752292
https://www.dreamstime.com/impala-calf-baby-antelope-wilderness-africa-image174752323
https://www.dreamstime.com/impala-calf-baby-antelope-wilderness-africa-image174752267
https://www.dreamstime.com/impala-calf-baby-antelope-wilderness-africa-image174752206
https://www.dreamstime.com/impala-calf-baby-antelope-wilderness-africa-image174752335
https://www.dreamstime.com/impala-calf-baby-antelope-wilderness-africa-image174751290
https://www.dreamstime.com/impala-calf-baby-antelope-wilderness-africa-image174751207
https://www.dreamstime.com/impala-calf-baby-antelope-wilderness-africa-image174751181
https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photos-impala-kindergarden-image11193168
The following shows that the dark stripe on the tail is more precocial than the dark stripes on the buttocks:
https://www.dreamstime.com/impala-antelope-wilderness-africa-image174751496
https://www.dreamstime.com/antony-trivet-photography-maasai-mara-national-reserve-image231687995
https://www.dreamstime.com/antony-trivet-photography-maasai-mara-national-reserve-image231687999
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photos-impala-image24461683
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-large-male-impala-walking-across-rocky-savanna-olare-orok-conservancy-bordering-masai-mara-kenya-his-horns-well-image84208266
Redunca redunca:
https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photography-wild-impala-image27713237
https://www.dreamstime.com/young-wild-impala-young-wild-impala-doe-serengeti-national-park-image111524710
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photos-wild-african-antelope-close-up-image37254463
https://www.dreamstime.com/common-impala-running-jumping-kruger-national-park-south-africa-specie-aepyceros-melampus-family-bovidae-common-impala-image151679876
https://www.dreamstime.com/impala-common-antelopes-east-south-africa-easy-to-observe-especially-etosha-national-park-namibia-herd-female-image164032994
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-impala-aepyceros-melampus-head-shoulders-against-blurred-natural-background-image44231770
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-image-wild-impala-image27326221
https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photography-wild-impala-image27302037
Kick-stotting, with the tail intermittently tucked:
https://www.dreamstime.com/female-impala-jumping-joy-side-profile-young-leaping-dried-earth-masai-mara-kenya-image267080858
https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photos-impala-antelopes-standing-side-long-grass-image24692578
https://www.dreamstime.com/black-buck-baby-jumping-mid-air-greenery-bucks-resident-species-gujarat-india-found-many-places-big-groups-image184881477
https://www.dreamstime.com/black-buck-baby-jumping-mid-air-greenery-bucks-resident-species-gujarat-india-found-many-places-big-groups-image184881434
https://www.dreamstime.com/the-javan-rusa-or-sunda-sambar--rusa-timorensis-the-javan-rusa-or-sunda-sambar--rusa-timorensis-deer-species-image162982854
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-couple-impalas-fighting-kruger-national-park-south-africa-image48581610
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-thomson-s-gazelle-savanna-africa-national-park-image74210033
https://www.dreamstime.com/female-impalas-running-jumping-masai-mara-game-reserve-kenya-impalas-running-grass-kenya-image185833263
https://www.dreamstime.com/familiy-group-impalas-masai-mara-kenya-aepyceros-melampus-dry-grasslands-image212405619
Giraffa tippelskirchi thornicrofti:
https://www.dreamstime.com/nature-scene-national-park-africa-african-wild-nature-wildlife-scene-national-park-africa-great-rift-image229192193
Oryx callotis:
https://www.dreamstime.com/oryx-sitting-savannah-tsavo-west-park-image209201906
https://www.dreamstime.com/three-impalas-standing-alert-hill-south-african-low-veld-image251320555
https://www.dreamstime.com/young-impalas-kenyan-bush-two-curious-young-impalas-long-grass-samburu-game-reserve-kenya-image185833497
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-small-gazelle-profile-taken-their-natural-habitat-africa-image70300141
https://www.dreamstime.com/the-javan-rusa-or-sunda-sambar--rusa-timorensis-thejavan-rusaorsunda-sambarrusa-timorensispecies-image162317398
https://www.dreamstime.com/deer-species-endemic-to-islands-java-the-javan-rusa-or-sunda-sambar-rusa-timorensis-bali-timor-including-image162982485
https://www.dreamstime.com/the-javan-rusa-or-sunda-sambar--rusa-timorensis-thejavan-rusaorsunda-sambarrusa-timorensispecies-image162316750
https://www.dreamstime.com/the-javan-rusa-is-deer-species-endemic-to-islands-rusa-or-sunda-sambar--rusa-timorensis-java-bali-timor-image167769173
https://www.dreamstime.com/barking-deer-khao-yai-national-park-thailand-image182146759
https://www.dreamstime.com/nice-wild-african-impalas-walking-mikumi-national-park-tanzania-nice-wild-african-impalas-mikumi-national-park-image134600340
https://www.dreamstime.com/travel-namibia-namib-desert-to-boarder-angola-road-travel-namib-desert-sossusvlei-to-game-park-damaraland-image154507910
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-gazelle-ngorongoro-conservation-area-tanzania-image61687997
Picture worth a thousand words
https://www.dreamstime.com/water-point-gnu-wildebeest-wildebai-thomson-gazelle-water-point-gnu-wildebeest-wildebai-thomson-gazelle-image175823013
https://www.dreamstime.com/grants-gazelle-standing-long-grass-taken-kenya-gazelle-grass-image254523790
https://www.dreamstime.com/lion-panthera-leo-moremi-wildlife-reserve-ngamiland-botswana-africa-image131835023
https://www.dreamstime.com/several-specimens-thompson-s-gazelle-grassland-ngorongoro-conservation-area-safari-concept-tanzania-africa-image213430867
https://www.dreamstime.com/busy-watering-hole-animals-congregate-to-drink-waterig-hole-namibian-savanna-image110506187
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-oryx-namib-naukluft-desert-namibia-image98181522
https://www.dreamstime.com/black-buck-female-grass-land-black-buck-female-grass-land-closer-look-image225310591
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-antelopes-zebra-background-grass-safari-africa-image70300215
https://www.dreamstime.com/group-impalas-aepyceros-melampus-rear-view-kruger-national-park-group-impalas-aepyceros-melampus-rear-view-kruger-image270499861
https://www.dreamstime.com/young-gazelle-looking-camera-african-savannah-image267818951
Hippotragus equinus:
https://www.dreamstime.com/antelope-impala-costs-having-turned-head-against-adult-male-antelope-impala-costs-having-turned-head-against-image283512635
Orbits
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-small-impala-some-kind-antelope-image53341833
As Aepyceros melampus grows from infancy to adulthood, the stalk of the tail becomes proportionately narrower. This exposes a strip of the bare perineal skin on each side, left and right:
https://www.dreamstime.com/impalas-african-savannah-two-grazing-maasai-mara-national-reserve-kenya-image168286482
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-images-impala-rear-image1415424
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/11238746
The following show that the ear pinnae are proportionately larger in juveniles than in adults:
juvenile
https://www.dreamstime.com/impala-serengeti-aepyceros-melampus-tanzania-image185641145
adult
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-impala-staring-camera-image43614870
https://www.wildlifeact.com/blog/impala-scent-glands-signalling-countershading/
https://africageographic.com/stories/impala/
https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-impala-portrait-close-up-aepyceros-melampus-flapping-ears-kruger-national-park-south-africa-image98082321
Buccal semet
https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/two-male-impala-fighting-serengeti-national-park-royalty-free-image/75875136?phrase=african+impala&adppopup=true
https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/female-impalas-on-the-alert-royalty-free-image/649107623?phrase=african+impala&adppopup=true
https://kapama.com/rangerblog/kapama-impala-facts/
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/impala-mediumsized-antelope-dark-brown-back-2356655049
https://www.serengetinationalpark.travel/animals-wildlife.php
https://kathykarn.com/blog/gerenuk
https://www.africanbudgetsafaris.com/blog/gemsbok-eland-african-antelope/#gallery/https://d2g6byanrj0o4m.cloudfront.net/images/66540/dreamstime_m_86166580.jpg/
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/familiy-group-impalas-aepyceros-melampus-dry-1929288911
remarkable variation in size of tail
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/impala-aepyceros-melampus-okavango-delta-grassland-2350076401
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/impala-elegant-antelope-natural-african-environment-1304650600
https://www.alamy.com/cheetah-walking-through-grass-with-impala-behind-image224312393.html?imageid=B43B1F50-3D08-49E6-8000-A03915F7ABC2&p=238399&pn=6&searchId=0171166ff0fdcc816dc79c8195263b39&searchtype=0
https://www.alamy.com/stock-image-lion-walking-in-front-of-a-herd-of-impala-in-the-chobe-national-park-160016954.html?imageid=33C1415F-6B95-4E55-874D-FEF667E74982&p=298586&pn=7&searchId=50bebc76d0c20079e708365b30dfa70f&searchtype=0
https://www.alamy.com/impala-aepyceros-melampus-herd-of-females-masai-mara-park-in-kenya-image563285169.html?imageid=9324EA0F-C074-4139-923C-3FCC1BF34CBE&p=53964&pn=8&searchId=db85502dbb4afee18cd3a2c8fe6b3c4e&searchtype=0
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-oryx-walking-through-the-dunes-of-sossusvlei-133370952.html?imageid=CD22C230-E46A-45CB-8B76-05FA06724E76&p=194739&pn=8&searchId=db85502dbb4afee18cd3a2c8fe6b3c4e&searchtype=0
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-oryx-walking-through-the-dunes-of-sossusvlei-133371082.html?imageid=B2E002E0-0B57-4891-B834-0208C1E6534B&p=194739&pn=9&searchId=934e2972990566fda83c9d495d3b7b0b&searchtype=0
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-oryx-walking-through-the-dunes-of-sossusvlei-133370967.html?imageid=901DF7F2-F6C5-4FC6-B55D-E7C50A2256E4&p=194739&pn=9&searchId=934e2972990566fda83c9d495d3b7b0b&searchtype=0
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-oryx-in-the-namibian-desert-133371166.html?imageid=4A76DB27-93E7-441F-B234-E9EDEF61AE24&p=194739&pn=11&searchId=933fa85e84e250fb6c353b09a8d08f7d&searchtype=0
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-oryx-in-the-namibian-desert-133371128.html?imageid=37A969C2-8860-47BA-A8FE-67E6DD585993&p=194739&pn=11&searchId=933fa85e84e250fb6c353b09a8d08f7d&searchtype=0
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-oryx-in-the-namibian-desert-133371159.html?imageid=15845C4F-DD6D-4D00-9730-FF6942B977FC&p=194739&pn=11&searchId=933fa85e84e250fb6c353b09a8d08f7d&searchtype=0
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-impalas-aepyceros-melampus-kruger-national-park-south-africa-africa-29070293.html?imageid=691514A8-C900-4C2B-A46D-76C874B88238&p=53550&pn=9&searchId=934e2972990566fda83c9d495d3b7b0b&searchtype=0
https://www.alamy.com/impala-aepyceros-melampus-male-and-f-females-masai-mara-park-in-kenya-image563287004.html?imageid=DF2A01EF-07CE-44D0-9F8F-60A9E74D523D&p=53964&pn=9&searchId=934e2972990566fda83c9d495d3b7b0b&searchtype=0
https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/3ftgjy/whats_your_mom_yelling_about/
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/joa.13114
Connochaetes mearnsi:
https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/lion-cubs-royalty-free-image/1284185605?phrase=african+impala&adppopup=true
Aepyceros melampus, showing penicillate caudal flag:
https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/closeup-of-impala-image-taken-on-safari-located-in-royalty-free-image/1284891197?phrase=african+impala&adppopup=true
https://www.gettyimages.ae/detail/photo/female-impala-running-royalty-free-image/822523658?phrase=single+female+deer+from+the+side&adppopup=true
https://www.gettyimages.ae/detail/photo/sprinting-impala-royalty-free-image/503017078?phrase=single+female+deer+from+the+side&adppopup=true
https://www.gettyimages.ae/detail/photo/portrait-of-female-elk-royalty-free-image/639379534?phrase=single+female+deer+from+the+side&adppopup=true
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/impalas-live-large-harem-herds-many-2341801937
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