Barbary Sheep

The Barbary sheep has the distinction of being the only wild sheep species in Africa ⁽⁴⁾, and the only species in the genus Ammotragus ⁽⁵⁾. In appearance, it is somewhat of an intermediate between a sheep and a goat. It is a stocky, heavily built animal, with short legs and a rather long face ⁽²⁾. The coat, which is generally a sandy-brown colour ⁽⁴⁾, is woolly during the winter, but moults to a finer, sleek coat for the hot summer months ⁽²⁾. Both sexes have horns that sweep backwards and outwards in an arch; those of the male are much thicker, longer and more heavily ridged than the more slender horns of the female ⁽²⁾. Males also differ from females by their significantly heavier weight, (up to twice that of females) ⁽²⁾, and the notably longer curtain of hair that hangs from the throat, chest and upper part of the forelegs ^{(2) (5)}. On males, this mane of long, soft hairs almost touches the ground ^{(2) (5)}. The short tail, which is hairless on the underside, has scent glands ⁽²⁾.