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ABSTRACT
Monocotyledon/dicotyledon ratios were determined from rumen samples taken from impala Aepyceros melampus. Overall, territorial males were found to have the lowest dicotyledon proportion sampled (30,93 %), while values for females and bachelor males were significantly higher (47,72 % and 48,98% respectively). Three factors may explain the differences in diet between the three classes: bachelor males are restricted by territorial males to areas with a lower proportion of monocotyledons, females select for dicotyledons because of their superior nutritional value and territorial males have less time than females to forage and are less selective feeders.