Poudre High School: At a Glance

Poudre High School is the only high school in the United States
with the impala as their mascot. Below you will find
some general information about this amazing animal.

impala

Characteristics: Impalas have a short, glossy reddish-tan coat. The undersides are white with rings around the eyes. Other markings include black ear tips, a black stripe down the back and tail, and one stipe down each flank. The "S" shaped horns are only found on the males. There are also black tufts of hair covering a gland on the heel of the back feet.

Habitat: The impala lives mostly along the wooded savannahs in eastern Africa. Their diet consists of grass shoots, leaves, blossoms, and fruit. The impala falls prey to many African predators, but the young are especially vulnerable to pythons.

Behavior: Impalas are active throughout the day, alternating sleeping and grazing. The home range of a herd ranges from 2 to 6 square kilometers. The leaps of impalas may be one of their most famous behaviors; one jump may span over 9 meters in length and 2.5 meters high. The herd will "explode" by jumping in random directions to confuse a predator. However, they are not exceptional runners and will often depend on hiding in cover to escape.

Name Origins: Impala is a Zulu name. The scientific name, aepyceros melampus, comes from Greek words. Aipos means high, keras means the horn of an animal, melas means black, and pous means foot.

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