Description and varieties of wild rams with twisted horns, where they live
Wild rams belong to the Bovid family. These animals are native to South and Central Asia. Certain varieties of these individuals are listed in the Red Book. Animals predominantly live in mountainous areas. There are quite a few types of such individuals, each of which has certain characteristics. They differ in appearance, habitat, behavior.
Feature, external description
Common 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, curled horns. The body of animals is covered with wool. It can have different shades - white or dark brown. Males have a sort of mane around their necks. Horns usually grow in both females and males. At the same time, females have soft and shortened horns, and males are larger, up to 1 meter long.
Where do the rams live
Wild sheep have spread 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.
Varieties
There are quite a few varieties of rams. They differ in appearance and other features.
The main types include the following:
- Mouflon. It is a wild mountain ram with twisted horns. At the same time, there are several varieties of mouflons. Europeans live in Sardinia and Corsica and weigh 40-50 kilograms. Asian mouflons have become more widespread. Their weight exceeds 80 kilograms.
- Urial. These rams 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.
- Argali. These are fairly large animals. They grow up to 2 meters in length. The largest representative of this group is the Pamir sheep, which weighs up to 180 kilograms. A distinctive feature of argali is considered to be large horns, twisted in a spiral. They reach 1.9 meters in length. Another characteristic feature is the light-colored girdle mark on the neck. The color of the coat can be red, light brown or sandy.
- Bighorn sheep. These rams live in Eastern Siberia. They are characterized by a dark brown color and a light underbelly.A dense constitution is characteristic of animals. Adult males reach 1.88 meters in length. Moreover, their weight is 150 kilograms.
- Bold-horned ram. These animals live in North America. They often settle in rocky terrain and have a robust build. This variety has a small head and small ears. Large horns with a spiral coil are considered a characteristic feature. Males can weigh up to 143 kilograms. The color is different. Most often, the coat is brown. In this case, the inner side of the thighs and abdomen are somewhat lighter.
- Thin-legged 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 curl up into a spiral. There are 2 subspecies of such rams. One of them has a white coat and is found in the northern and northwestern parts of the continent. There are also gray lambs that have white spots near the tail. Also, animals 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 lonely lifestyle or form small groups in which a strict hierarchy is established. It is based on the size of the horns or is set in battle.
Specificity of behavior
These wild animals are used to being sedentary. They live in herds and have a friendly disposition. When a threat appears, the rams give alarm signals. Adults snort and juveniles bleat. The herd then moves to a safe place out of the reach of predators.
Animals climb mountains well and can 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, rams have many enemies. These include:
- wolves;
- cougars;
- eagles;
- golden eagles;
- Snow leopards.
What do they eat
They are absolutely herbivores. 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 the snow cover.
Animals feed only during the day. At night they have a rest time. The only condition for choosing pastures is the availability of a water source. However, animals are able to remain without moisture for a long time.
Breeding animals
The mating season for these animals begins with the arrival of cold weather. This usually happens in November or December. During the mating season, sheep descend from the mountains into the valleys and form flocks. The number of individuals in them is maximum 17. At the same time, females mature at 2 years of age. The length of the mating season for each species 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. The rams chase the females.
Loud animal sounds can be heard over long distances. In this case, the females are constantly fighting with each other in order to attract the attention of the male. After the end of the mating games, pregnancy comes. On average, it lasts 5-6 months. As a result, lambs are born. The birthing process usually takes place in narrow rocks, into which a predatory animal cannot penetrate. 1 litter usually contains 2-3 lambs. Moreover, their weight is 3-6 kilograms.
In the first months, the lambs are weakened. They move with their mother all the time. Adult females form special herds, which include new litters and young animals born last year. For six months, the female actively feeds the babies with milk.After the end of this period, young lambs themselves refuse milk. Young animals feed on juicy green food, which helps to build muscles and strengthen bones.
Hunting for a wild ram
Previously, an active hunt for wild sheep was carried out for meat and skins. Today the horns of animals are of the greatest value. On the black market, their price can be 10 thousand dollars. You cannot hunt these animals. Most of the species are protected. Nevertheless, the number of these animals in the reserves is gradually increasing. Wild rams are interesting animals that live in rocky areas and come in many varieties. Each of them is characterized by certain features.
