Territorial behaviour in southern impala rams (Aepyceros melampus Lichtenstein)

Abstract

The role of territoriality was investigated by studying 25 impala rams at a reserve in the Waterberg region of South Africa (23°45'S, 28°23'E). Mean territorial tenure was 67.25 days (range 23-

Savannah roars: The vocal anatomy and the impressive rutting calls of male impala (Aepyceros melampus) – highlighting the acoustic correlates of a mobile larynx

“…In contrast, low‐frequency, wideband, noisy male rutting calls occur much more often, e.g. in koala Phascolarctos cinereus (Charlton et al ), striped possum Dactylopsila trivirgata (Volodin & Volodina, ), red deer Cervus elaphus (Fitch & Reby, ), fallow deer Dama dama (McElligott et al ), saiga Saiga tatarica (Frey et al ), goitred gazelle Gazella subgutturosa (Frey et al ) and impala Aepyceros melampus (Murray, ; Oliver et al ) (Fig. ).…”

“…The common impala is a sexually dimorphic polygynous ruminant (Jarman, ; Murray, ; Oliver et al ) with a body mass of 49–63 kg in males and 38–45 kg in females (Skinner, ; Fairall & Braack, ; Murray, ; Fig. ).…”

“…During the rutting season, which lasts from the beginning of May until mid‐June depending on the area (Dasmann & Mossman, ; Child, , ; Schenkel, ; Skinner, ; Warren, ; Jarman, ; Murray, ; Favreau et al ), impala males compete for females and regularly produce loud, low‐frequency roars at both phases of respiration (Schenkel, ; Murray, ; Oliver et al ). Previously, the male impala rutting roars have only been described onomatopoetically (Schenkel, ; Murray, ).…”

Grouping behaviour and activity patterns of impala (Aepyceros melampus) in a nutrient –rich and a nutrient-poor savanna in Tanzania

“…Browsing in big groups do not have the same advantage of improving forage quality as grazing, and because the impala browse in the dry season, the groups split in both sites. Bigger groups during the rainy season are also related to breeding, where territorial males establish and defend an area to attract females for mating ( Oliver et al., 2007 ; Hunninck et al., 2020 ). However, territorial behaviour is influenced by availability and quality of resources ( Bowyer et al., 2020 ).…”

“…They are seasonal breeders that mate during the rainy season from April to June, and birth six months later at the end of the dry season ( Ogutu et al., 2008 ; Hunninck et al., 2020 ). Territorial male impala leave the bachelor groups during the breeding season to establish and defend territories ( Oliver et al., 2007 ; Hunninck et al., 2020 ). Resources of the territories such as food and water attract females ( Hunninck et al., 2020 ).…”