Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Artiodactyla
• Family: Bovidae
• Subfamily: Caprinae
• Genus: Ammotragus
• Species: Ammotragus lervia

Geographic Range

Ethiopian: Barbary sheep, also called auodads, originated in the hills of the Sahara and have inhabited all the major mountains
of North Africa. In the late 1800s, Barbary sheep were introduced into Europe, including Germany and Italy. Around 1900,
the first Barbary sheep were transferred to the United States to be placed in zoos. Surplus zoo stock was sold to private
parties who eventually released some to the wild in New Mexico in 1950 and in Texas in 1957. This has allowed a wild
population to develop in the southwestern United States (Gray & Simpson, 1980).

Physical Characteristics

Mass: 65 to 145 kg.

Ammotragus lervia is a relatively large sheep. The main pelage of the Barbary sheep is brown; however, the chin, throat,
chest, and insides of the front limbs are covered with long, white hair. This white hair is called the ventral mane and appears
as if the sheep had a beard. Sexual dimorphism is evident. Males can be up to 145 kg, while females are much smaller, the
largest are up to 65 kg. Both males and females have horns that curve outward, backward, and point inward toward the
neck. Females' horns are smaller, but have the same shape (Gray & Simpson, 1980; The Mammals of Texas - Online Edition, 1994).

Natural History

Food Habits
Barbary sheep are herbivorous, feeding on a variety of vegetation such as grass, forbs, and shrubs. Seasonal variation plays
a role in determining their diet. In the winter, grass makes up the majority of food intake, while shrubs are the more common
food the rest of the year (The Mammals of Texas - Online Edition, 1994).

Reproduction
Breeding usually occurs from September through November, but the timing can vary. Gestation lasts about 160 days, so
most lambs are born between March and May. However, births have been seen as late as November. Most births produce
a single offspring, but twins are born one out of every six or seven births.

The timing of sexual maturity varies among males. Sperm were found in one male at eleven months; however, this is probably
not the norm. Females are considered sexually mature at 19 months; however, females as young as 8 months of age have
produced offspring.

During estrus, females lick the sides of the prospective mate. The animals may touch muzzles. The male mounts the female
and achieves copulation.

Behavior
A dominance hierarchy has been observed in zoo populations of Barbary sheep. The social hierarchy is "one of linear
descent through males, females, and juveniles." Males are the dominant sex, mainly because of the tremendous size
difference. In groups, however, a dominant female always leaders. Dominance among juveniles is determined by the
strength of the pair bond with their mothers. As the bond is broken, juveniles gain a sense of dominance among their peers.

Barbary sheep have a very distinct threat posture used in intraspecific conflicts. They direct their horns toward the animal
with which they are in conflict. Aggressive behavior is also shown by two other acts. One is the head-on charge, when
two males charge into each other making contact with their horns. The other type of aggressive behavior is more similar to
wrestling. The males butt their heads or hook their horns and then twist and make gouging movements. Females have been
seen to fight, but they rarely perform the head-on charge. Unlike many of their relatives, Barbary sheep do not kick (Gray &
Simpson, 1980; Schaller, 1977).

Habitat
Ammotragus lervia is endemic to the mountains of Northern Africa. It has also survived in the mountains and canyons of
the dry southwestern United States. Barbary sheep live in the desert mountains from sea level up to the edge of the snows.

Barbary sheep are also well adapted to a dry climate. They are able to survive long periods of time without fresh water
intake by using metabolic water (Gray & Simpson, 1980; The Mammals of Texas - Online Edition, 1994; Schaller, 1977).

Biomes: mountains, desert

Economic Importance for Humans

Positive
In the United States, Barbary sheep are commercially bred to be used for sport hunting. Nomads of the Sahara depend
on Barbary sheep for meat, hide, hair, sinews, and horns (Gray & Simpson, 1980).

Negative
It is currently unknown as to whether the Barbary sheep will become a pest like many other introduced species. It has
been suggested that Barbary sheep would compete directly with mule deer for food. They might also affect the attempt at
reintroduction of bighorn sheep. These two species may not survive in the same environment because of direct competition
for food and other resources.

Barbary sheep have been found feeding on winter wheat crops in Texas (Mammals of Texas - Online Edition, 1994).

Conservation

Status:

IUCN: Vulnerable
U.S. ESA: No special status
CITES: Appendix II

Commercially grown and wild populations of Barbary sheep are legally hunted in New Mexico and Texas (Gray & Simpson,
1980).

Other Comments

A viable female offspring was produced when a female domestic goat was mated with a male Barbary sheep. This was
confirmed by a backcross with a male Barbary sheep (Gray & Simpson, 1980; The Mammals of Texas - Online Edition,
1994).

References

"The Mammals of Texas - Online Edition" (On-line), Available http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot1/ammolerv.htm . (November 21,
1999)

Gray, Gary G. and C. David Simpson. 20 November 1980. Ammotragus lervia. Mammalian Species 144:1-7.

Schaller, George B. 1977. Mountain Monarchs. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL.

Disclaimer: The animal information pages on the Lion Country Safari website are intended as educational
resources. They may not contain all the latest scientific information about every species, nor can we
guarantee their accuracy.

For questions, comments or to report an error on this page contact: education@lioncountrysafari.com