Taxonomy and Etymology
The name impala comes from the Zulu language meaning "gazelle". The scientific name of the impala is Aepyceros melampus. The name is derived from Greek words αιπος aipos ("high"), κερος ceros ("horn") and melas ("black"), pous ("foot").
In the past, taxonomists had put impalas in the same tribe as gazelles, kobs, and hartebeests. However, the impala is so different from any of these tribes, it was put in its own tribe, Aepycerotini. This tribe has now been elevated to subfamily status.
Usually, two subspecies are distinguished (this is supported by mitochondrial DNA analysis):
- Black-faced impala (A. m. petersi)
- Common impala (A. m. melampus)
Only one species of impala exists today, but several fossil species are also known, including A. datoadeni, from the Pliocene of Ethiopia.
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