The ancestor of the sheep: what animals came from, who are the ancestors and where do they live

Sheep are valuable pets. They became a source of not only dairy and meat products, but also wool, on the basis of which clothes, shoes, and felt are made. Animals were domesticated several thousand years ago, there are many options for their origin. Consider who is the ancestor of the modern sheep, the theoretical assumptions of domestication, where they live.

History of domestication

People were engaged in sheep breeding 8000 years ago. This is evidenced by the drawings found on the walls of the grave buildings. For 1000 years BC. e. used animal hair to make fabrics.The first mention of sheep was found in the writings of Aristotle. According to the described characteristics, the animal was similar to the modern Tsigai variety. Species with white wool were common in the territories of the Spanish, Greek, Italian states. From them, the now known merinos are bred. From the 19th century in France, farmers began to improve the characteristics of coarse-wooled sheep, producing a number of breeds familiar to farmers.

From what animals do domestic sheep originate?

The first sheep appeared from wild species, but the unambiguous source of origin is unknown. There are a number of breeds that are similar to domesticated relatives in conformation and performance.

Wild mouflon

It has such subtypes - European and Asian. It is distinguished by good quality wool and the original shape of the horns, which hunters keep as a trophy. The ancestor of sheep has the following characteristics:

• height - up to 95 cm, length - up to 150 cm;
• short hair grows on a powerful body, the color changes seasonally: reddish in summer, darker in winter;
• black stripe along the back;
• weight of females - up to 45 kg, males - up to 80 kg;
• powerful horns wrapped sideways;
• life expectancy is about 15 years.

Argali

Listed in the Red Book, is considered the largest species of mountain sheep. Description of classic argali:

• height - up to 125 cm, length - up to 200 cm;
• stately shortened torso with a developed chest;
• colour yellow or yellow-brownish, darkens in the cold season;
• the weight of a male sometimes reaches 200 kg, females - 100 kg;
• Sickle-shaped horns, total size up to 60cm;
• approximate life expectancy is about 15 years, in artificially created conditions the animal lives up to 18-20 years.

Argali

They are also called Altai mountain sheep. The main characteristics of argali:

• height - up to 125 cm, length - up to 200 cm;
• trunk shortened, with thin but strong limbs;
• color is different, from light red to brown-brown;
• dark stripes on the sides;
• abdominal region and muzzle lighter than the whole body;
• weight of an adult male - up to 200 kg, females - up to 100 kg;
• spiral-shaped horns, total length - up to 150 cm, weight - up to 35 kg, diameter - up to 55 cm;
• Life expectancy is about 15 years.

Wild Ancestral Habitat

The sheep's wild ancestors live in mountainous areas. Summer time is spent on the slopes, in winter they go down to the foothills of the mountains. Animal Habitat:

1. Mouflon. Lives on the mountainous Mediterranean coasts: Sardinia, Cyprus, Armenia, Corsica, Iraq.
2. Argali. Distributed in Central Asia, in the Mongolian, Kazakh territories, in the mountainous Tibetan, Himalayan, Nepalese areas.
3. Altai mountain sheep. They are concentrated in the areas of the mountainous Altai, Tuva, Mongolian massifs.

As a result of breeding experiments with wild breeds and domestic sheep, he althy, long-living animals have been bred, confirming the great possibility of kinship.

Origin theories

After a long study of the evolution of domestic sheep, experts disagreed. Some believe that only one representative, the mouflon, acts as the ancestor. The rest suggest a relationship of sheep with several varieties, namely argali and argali.

Research revealed significant differences between wild and domestic sheep:

1. Length of limbs. Domestic sheep have short limbs, while wild sheep have longer ones.
2. Type of body structure. Wild sheep are distinguished by a slender physique with a well-defined muscular relief. The body of domestic representatives is rounded.
3. Wool. Homemade have a high quality soft fleece. In wild representatives, the coat is coarse, consisting of an awn and dead hairs.
4. Sense organs. In wild sheep, they are much more developed.

Differences between domestic sheep and their wild ancestors appeared as a result of evolution, selection work. The topic of the origin of sheep is still open. The work of finding the sheep's ancestors continues.

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