Wild ram with twisted horns: where they live, description and varieties, behavior

Wild sheep belong to the Bovine family. These animals come from South and Central Asia. Separate varieties of these individuals are listed in the Red Book. Animals mostly live in the mountains. There are quite a few types of such individuals, each of which has certain characteristics. They differ in appearance, habitat, behavior.

Characteristic, external description

Ordinary rams grow up to 1.4-1.8 meters in length. In this case, the tail of animals reaches 5-15 centimeters. In height at the withers, they can be 65-125 centimeters.Their live weight can be 20-200 kilograms. Males are larger and have long, twisted horns. The body of animals is covered with hair. It can have different shades - white or dark brown. Males have a kind of mane around their necks. Horns usually grow in both females and males. At the same time, females have soft and shortened horns, while males are larger, up to 1 meter long.

Where the sheep live

Wild sheep have become widespread in the mountains of Central and Central Asia. Animals can rise to a height of 1000-7000 meters above sea level. There are varieties living in the western and eastern regions of Siberia.

Sheep love outdoor areas. To take cover, they climb to the high places of the rocks. In summer, animals move to the heights, and in winter they descend to areas with little snow.

Varieties

There are quite a few varieties of sheep. They differ in appearance and other features.

The main types include the following:

1. Mouflon. This is a wild mountain sheep with twisted horns. In this case, there are several varieties of mouflons. European live in Sardinia and Corsica and weigh 40-50 kilograms. Asian mouflons have become more widespread. Their weight exceeds 80 kilograms.
2. Urial. These sheep are found in the mountains of Central Asia and Kashmir. They are brown in color. Males grow up to 1.45 meters in length and weigh 87 kilograms.
3. Argali. These are fairly large animals. They grow in length up to 2 meters. The largest representative of this group is the Pamir ram, whose weight reaches 180 kilograms. A distinctive feature of argali are large horns twisted in a spiral. They reach a length of 1.9 meters. Another characteristic feature is considered to be a light encircling mark on the neck.Coat colors can be red, light brown or sandy.
4. Snow sheep. These sheep live in Eastern Siberia. They are characterized by a dark brown color and a light underbelly. Animals are characterized by a dense physique. Adult males reach a length of 1.88 meters. At the same time, their weight is 150 kilograms.
5. Thick-horned ram. These animals live in North America. They often settle in rocky areas and have a strong constitution. This species is characterized by a small head and small ears. A characteristic feature is considered to be large horns with a spiral coil. The weight of males can reach 143 kilograms. Color varies. Most often, the coat has a brown tint. At the same time, the inner side of the thighs and the stomach are slightly lighter.
6. Thin-horned ram. These animals are found in North America. Males reach a length of 1.8 meters. Moreover, their weight is 140 kilograms. The length of the horns reaches 1.1 meters, while they are folded into a spiral.There are 2 subspecies of such sheep. One of them has a white coat color and is found in the northern and northwestern parts of the continent. There are also gray lambs that have white spots near the tail. Animals also live in the northwest.

Lifestyle and longevity

These herbivores live 10-12 years. The gestation period is 5 months. Animals are diurnal. Females and young live in herds. At the same time, males lead a solitary lifestyle or form small groups in which a strict hierarchy is established. It is based on the size of the horns or set in combat.

Specific behavior

These wild animals are used to sedentary life. They live in herds and have a friendly disposition. When a threat appears, the rams give alarm signals. Adults snort and juveniles bleat. Then the herd moves to a safe place, which is inaccessible to predators.

Animals climb mountains perfectly and are able to jump 2 meters in height and up to 5 meters in length. The maximum activity of animals is observed in the first half of the day. They graze mainly in the mornings and evenings.

Natural enemies

In the wild, sheep have many enemies. These include:

• wolves;
• cougars;
• eagles;
• golden eagles;
• snow leopards.

What do they eat

These are absolutely herbivorous animals. Any variety perfectly adapts to different conditions. However, when given a choice, rams choose cereals. With a small amount of vegetation, animals are forced to eat branches of shrubs and trees. They can also find food under snow cover.

Animals eat only during the day. At night it is time for them to rest. The only condition for choosing pastures is the availability of a source of water. However, animals are able to remain without moisture for a long time.

Animal breeding

The mating season for these animals begins with the arrival of cold weather. This usually happens in November or December. During the mating season, the lambs descend from the mountains to the valleys and form flocks. The number of individuals in them is a maximum of 17. At the same time, females mature at 2 years of age. The duration of the mating season for each variety may be different.

Males form around themselves a kind of harems, which can include 9-30 females. During the mating season, they are characterized by aggressiveness. Sheep chasing females.

The loud sounds that animals make can be heard over long distances. At the same time, females fight each other all the time in order to attract the attention of the male. After the mating games are over, pregnancy comes.On average, it lasts 5-6 months. As a result, lambs are born. The process of childbirth usually takes place in narrow rocks, which cannot be penetrated by a predatory animal. There are usually 2-3 lambs in 1 litter. At the same time, their weight is 3-6 kilograms.

In the first months, lambs are weakened. They are always moving with their mother. Adult females form special herds, which include a new litter and young animals born last year. Within six months, the female actively feeds the babies with milk. After the end of this period, young lambs themselves refuse milk. Young animals eat juicy green foods that help build muscle and strengthen bones.

Wild Sheep Hunting

Previously, wild sheep were actively hunted for meat and skins. Today, animal horns are of the greatest value. On the black market, their price can be 10 thousand dollars.You cannot hunt these animals. Most varieties are protected. However, in the reserves, the number of these animals is gradually increasing. Wild sheep are interesting animals that live in rocky areas and have many varieties. Each of them is characterized by certain features.

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