The mountain sheep also has other names, such as argali, argali, kachkar, arkar. This is a very graceful animal that lives in the wild. This animal represents the bovid family. Found in the highlands of Central Asia. The mountain sheep is the largest animal of its kind. Despite the fact that experts are still arguing about how many species of sheep there are on our Planet, most of them have identified 7 species. The term “Mountain sheep” is used by some in relation to many species, while others only in relation to argali.
Mountain sheep: description
The mountain sheep is a cloven-hoofed mammal of the bovid family. In Mongolian, the word "arhar" means "wild sheep". Translated from Latin, the word “ammon” means the name of the god Amon. In this regard, there is a myth that says that the celestial inhabitants of Olympus were afraid of Typhon, so many of them were reincarnated as various animals. So, the god Amon reincarnated as a mountain ram.
Nowadays, experts recognize the existence of 9 subspecies:
- Altai mountain sheep.
- Kazakhstan subspecies.
- Pamirsky.
- Gobi mountain sheep.
- Karatau subspecies.
- North China.
- Kyzylkum mountain sheep.
Some experts were inclined to believe that mouflons are also included in this family, but DNA research did not confirm this relationship. Recent advances in science and technology have recently made it possible to identify new subspecies, and some of them have been identified as one subspecies. Unfortunately, the last 200 years have caused significant harm to mountain sheep populations, which is why their numbers are constantly declining.
A decrease in the number of such wild animals leads to a decrease in the number of wild predatory animals that prey on mountain sheep. In addition, mountain sheep, mainly eating sedge, stimulate the development of forbs.
Mouflon - interesting facts
Appearance
Mountain sheep are the largest wild animals of their kind, as their weight ranges from 60-180 kilograms. The height at the withers can be 90-120 centimeters. The characteristic difference between such animals is their horns, which have a characteristic curve, as well as blunt warheads. The length of the horns of males can reach 2 meters, while the horns of females are much smaller. Males use their horns to defend their right to fertilize females. Among other things, females, compared to males, are 2 times less in weight. Females can gain weight up to 100 kg maximum, but males weigh almost 4 times more.
Interesting to know! Pamir mountain sheep, also called the sheep of Marco Polo, who first described them, are considered the largest subspecies, with a body length without a tail of up to 2 meters. Interestingly, this subspecies has a relatively short tail, the length of which ranges from 9-16 centimeters.
The main color of these animals depends on the living conditions, so individuals can be found from light yellow, reddish-brown to dark gray-brown. A dark stripe runs along the abdomen, which seems to separate the darker upper part of the body from the lighter lower part.
Mountain sheep living in the Himalayas are much darker in color compared to animals living in Russia. In summer, the coat becomes covered with slightly noticeable spots. The back area is much darker compared to the sides, and the belly area is much lighter compared to the sides. The muzzle area, tail and buttocks are yellowish-white. Males are darker than females, while males have a white collar on their necks and a characteristic crest on their backs. The animal sheds 2 times a year, while the winter coat is thicker and longer.
Habitat
Mountain sheep throughout their lives prefer to live in the same territories, including mountain ranges at altitudes up to 1 thousand meters above sea level. With the onset of summer, when access to food is unlimited, animals can be seen closer to the tops of the mountains.
Mountain sheep are found in the following countries of the world:
- In Mongolia. Their habitat is associated with the eastern territories of this country, which are characterized by the presence of hilly terrain, the presence of mountainous terrain, the presence of canyons and plateaus.
- In Uzbekistan. In the past, these animals inhabited the vast territory of this country, and in our time, the habitat of these animals is limited to the Nuratau mountain ranges, north of Samarkand, which are part of the protected zone. In the west of the Aktau and Tamdytau mountain ranges, a population of these animals still exists, albeit a small one.
- In Tajikistan. The habitat passes through the eastern part of the country, bordering Xinjiang, China, Langar and Lake Sarez.
- In Russia. Previously, these animals lived in vast areas of the Transbaikal, Kurai, and South Chuya ranges, as well as on the Ukok plateau. Nowadays, the habitat of mountain goats is limited to the Republic of Tyva and Altai.
- In Pakistan. Here, such animals live only within the Khunjerab National Park, including on the Khunerab and Mintaka passes.
- In Nepal. Here, mountain goats can be found on the border with Tibet, as well as in the Dolpo region.
- In Kyrgyzstan, their habitats are associated with the eastern territories of the country, bordering China, as well as with the territories of the eastern Tien Shan, bordering Uzbekistan.
- In Kazakhstan. It is found north of Lake Balkhash, as well as in the northeastern territories, including the Kara-Tau mountains.
- In India. These animals can be found in the north of Sikkim, near Tibet, as well as on the Ladakh plateau, in the east of the country.
- In China. The habitat of such animals extends to most of the mountain ranges of Xinjiang, as well as the Altai and Arji Shan mountain ranges. Kara-Kun Lun Shan, Tien Shan, Pamir, as well as in territories associated with these mountain ranges.
- In Afghanistan. Here, mountain sheep are found in the Vakhdzhir Valley, in large areas of the Lesser Pamir, as well as in the west of the Greater Pamir.
Central Asia is characterized by fairly vast and open landscapes. Such territories are perfect for the life of these animals, providing them with excellent visibility of their living space.
What does a mountain sheep eat?
These wild animals are herbivorous mammals, so their diet consists of grasses, greens and sedges. Females and their offspring feed in higher mountainous areas, where the diet is very poor. They prefer to be in open spaces, which provides them with reliable protection from natural enemies. Adult males, on the contrary, prefer to live at the foot of the mountains, where the quality of food is much higher.
Mountain sheep thrive in the extreme conditions of mountainous terrain, where it is windy and dry. Adult animals need to eat up to 20 kg of plant food every day. As a rule, the diet depends on living conditions. Climbing high into the mountains, their diet consists of grasses and sedges. Going lower, their diet expands due to shrubby vegetation and mesophytic grasses. Descending to the foot of the mountains, their diet does not noticeably expand, but it becomes better.
Living on the territory of Kazakhstan, mountain sheep feed on shoots, leaves, fruits, and inflorescences throughout the year, which is a quality addition to the diet of such animals, which cannot be said about animals living in other territories. Living in mountainous areas, these animals do not experience problems with water, since snow is constantly melting here, which flows in small rivers to the foot of the mountains. Living in arid areas, mountain sheep have to travel long distances to find water. To replenish their bodies with minerals, these animals often visit salt marshes.
Character and lifestyle
Mountain sheep prefer to lead a group lifestyle. Each group can include up to hundreds of animals, and the groups are divided by gender. As a rule, groups mix only during breeding seasons. Each population consists of a majority of adult females, with adult males making up about 20 percent. There are the same number of young argali.
Some adult males prefer to lead a solitary lifestyle, while others form small groups. Females with children form herds of up to a hundred individuals, although rarely, herds of 2 hundred animals are found.
It is important to know! Mountain sheep are not aggressive towards other species of animals or towards humans. These are purely social animals that always make contact with their relatives.
As a rule, herds migrate, but mainly in search of food, although factors such as an overabundance of blood-sucking insects, severe drought, fires, poaching, and an overabundance of livestock are triggers for the movement of such wild mammals.
During the summer, mountain sheep have to climb high into the mountains. During the mating season, males collide their heads with each other in fights, but such fights do not lead to serious injuries. Most likely, their fights are purely symbolic.
Altai mountain sheep description, characteristics and features of the breed
Reproduction and offspring
Mating games begin in October and continue until January, although at lower altitudes this process lasts longer. A female can mate with several males, which guarantees fertilization. During this period, males demonstrate their strength by striking each other with their powerful horns. The blows of males can be heard a kilometer away.
Interesting to know! Females are ready to reproduce at 2 years of age, and males when they reach 5 years of age. This difference is quite significant, since it affects the number of females and males living within the occupied territories.
Males over 6 years of age dominate in herds, driving out young and inexperienced males. The mating process begins about a couple of weeks after mating begins, and males can remain close to females for a couple of months after mating.
Females carry their offspring for 5 and a half months, so the offspring are born at the end of March or beginning of April. Mostly one young is born, although for some varieties the birth of a pair of lambs is a common occurrence. Cases have been recorded when 5 cubs were born at the same time. The weight of lambs is in the range of 2.5-4.5 kilograms. After birth, the family remains at the place of birth for some time, but the very next day the lambs do not leave their mother and follow her.
The offspring grows quite quickly and after a year of life their weight increases 10 times. By the age of 2 years, females gain maximum weight, and males will gain maximum weight for another couple of years. By 6 months of life, lambs acquire a full set of teeth. By this period, the offspring begin to consume adult food, but females continue to feed their cubs with milk. The lifespan of mountain sheep is 5-10 years.
Natural enemies of mountain sheep
Living in their natural environment, mountain sheep are susceptible to attack by various natural enemies. Their defense tactic is that they stay in groups, while adult males are not particularly afraid of predators. In this regard, their life activity is no longer associated with the highlands, but with the foot of the mountains, in comparison with females and young rams. To protect themselves from predators, these animals rarely use their horns. Their main weapon is fast running in difficult, mountainous terrain, where they feel like a fish in water. A lone individual, sensing a serious threat, can remain motionless for a long time. When the threat disappears, the animal “comes to life.” Therefore, the behavior in case of danger of individuals alone and those in a group is radically different.
Since male mountain sheep are larger and more massive, they do not use running and jumping to escape from predators, although mountain sheep are perfectly adapted to life in such difficult terrain conditions, which is what females and young individuals take advantage of. As a rule, males try to choose habitats that are inaccessible to predators. They can be seen on high hills, from where mountain sheep visually control their living space.
Mountain sheep can become victims of attack:
- Gray wolves.
- Irbis.
- Leopards.
- Snow leopards.
- Cheetahs.
The offspring that are born, which are especially defenseless, can become dinner for many predatory animals, as well as birds of prey. Mountain sheep are also hunted by people to obtain meat, skin and horns for themselves. The greatest damage to the total number of such animals is caused by wolves that hunt in packs. To avoid becoming another victim of predators, mountain sheep try to stay close to the herd.
Lifestyle, duration
Sheep live for approximately 10–12 years. The gestation period is 5 months. These are diurnal herbivores. Females and young individuals form herds. At the same time, males lead a solitary lifestyle or form small groups with a strict hierarchy, which is based on the size of the horns or established in battle.
Did you know? Ram horns are widely used in Chinese folk medicine - infusions are prepared from them that cure a number of diseases
Population and species status
Recently, the habitat, as well as the total number of mountain sheep, has noticeably decreased. A decrease in the number of such animals leads to a decrease in the number of predatory animals, whose diet is highly dependent on the presence of these ungulates.
Populations of mountain sheep in various countries:
- About 1 thousand individuals live in Afghanistan, while about 700 of them were counted in the Lesser Pamirs, and about 250 individuals in the Greater Pamirs.
- In China. Experts believe that up to 30 thousand of these animals live in the Middle Kingdom, although some experts are inclined to believe that this figure is much lower. Calculations are based on animal density, so the error can be significant.
- In India. The total number of such animals in this country barely reaches 4 hundred individuals.
- In Kazakhstan. The exact number is not known, especially of those individuals that live in the Tien Shan mountains. The total number, according to experts, is within 10 thousand individuals.
- In Kyrgyzstan. Based on research conducted by experts, it is believed that the total number of mountain sheep in this country is about 16 thousand.
- In Mongolia. The Academy of Sciences conducted research in 2001 and determined that the population of mountain sheep is about 17 thousand individuals.
- In Nepal. There are no exact counts, but it is believed that the populations of these animals in this country are small.
- In Pakistan. The exact number of these animals is unknown, but experts believe that no more than a hundred individuals remain.
- In Russia. In the southern regions of Russia in Altai, an average of up to fifty individuals live, while the animals are distributed into subpopulations, each of which includes up to fifty individuals. In the Altai Nature Reserve there are up to 80 mountain sheep, in the upper reaches of the rivers of the Sailugemsky ridge there are up to one and a half hundred individuals, and also in the Republic of Tuva on the slopes of the Chikhachev ridge there are up to 4 dozen mountain sheep.
- In Tajikistan. This country is home to between 13 and 14 thousand individuals, with the highest density found on the border with China.
- There are almost 2 thousand individuals in Uzbekistan, with 90 percent of the population inhabiting the Karautsky ridge.
Diet
These mammals feed on plant foods, preferring cereals. They can eat lichens, branches of bushes and trees, namely:
- oak;
- maple-pistachio;
- hornbeam;
- caragan
Mountain sheep regularly go to watering places and lick salt in the sun. During the winter cold, a layer of subcutaneous fat accumulates.
Mountain sheep conservation
Mountain sheep are on the verge of extinction, regardless of their habitat. The main negative factors include the loss of natural habitat associated with an increase in the number of domestic animals, as well as hunting. The mountain sheep is a fairly large animal, so it is considered a desirable trophy for any hunter. They are hunted for their meat, skin and horns, which are highly prized in Chinese folk medicine. Quite a lot of damage to mountain sheep populations is caused by poachers, for whom the main thing is to get big money. At one time, mountain sheep were completely destroyed in the northeast of China, in the territory of Southern Siberia, as well as in some territories of Mongolia.
It is important to know! Mountain sheep are protected by law in many countries around the world. They are included both in the international Red Book and in the Red Books of many states.
Mountain sheep are also included in the second CITEC Appendix, and some subspecies are included in Appendix I. To preserve mountain sheep as a species, protected areas are created where hunting such animals is strictly prohibited. These animals do well in captivity and can even reproduce. An important factor in reducing their numbers is various diseases that are transmitted from livestock. As a rule, the threats, regardless of the habitat of these mammals, differ little.
Nutrition
Wild sheep are herbivores, which is why they use a variety of, mainly grassy, vegetation of the mountainous area in which they exist as food, but the animals prefer cereals to all other types of food.
However, they are very unpretentious, so they can be content with rough types of food. Mountain sheep are happy to eat branches of trees, for example, oak or maple, as well as a wide variety of shrubs. Finding salt lick deposits, they greedily lick the salt from them, satisfying the body's need for minerals.
These animals also need abundant sources of clean water, but sheep living in desert areas often experience an acute shortage of meeting this kind of need. Animals' bodies prepare for winter in advance by accumulating fat reserves.
