a•ou•dad

(ˈɑ ʊˌdæd)

n. a wild sheep, Ammotragus lervia, of N Africa, having a long fringe of hair on the throat, chest, and forelegs. Also called Barbary sheep. [1860–65; < French < Berber]

Thesaurus

Noun

Barbary sheep - wild sheep of northern Africa Ammotragus lervia, aoudad, arui, audad, maned sheepwild sheep - undomesticated sheepAmmotragus, genus Ammotragus - genus of wild sheep

Barbary Sheep

(Ammotragus lervia), ruminant, cloven-footed mammals of the family Bovidae. They occupy an intermediate position between goats and sheep. Body length in adult males is 130–190 cm; height at the withers, 95–100 cm. The males have large horns, up to 70 cm in length, bent to the rear and inward; the female’s horns are much shorter. The body color is reddish-yellow. On the lower part of the neck, chest, and front legs, the hair is longer and forms a thick mane, from whence they are called grivistyi baran in Russian (maned sheep).

Barbary sheep are found in northern Africa. They live in small flocks in hard-to-reach cliff areas of the mountains. Their main food is herbaceous plants. The mating period is at the beginning of winter, and the gestation period is 154–161 days. One or two lambs are born. Barbary sheep were sought for their meat and skin, so that they have been seriously depleted by man. Now their numbers are small and continue to decline. They are protected in most of their range. Barbary sheep thrive and multiply in zoos.

Barbary sheep

Barbary sheep

a•ou•dad

Barbary Sheep

Barbary Sheep

Barbary sheep

Synonyms for Barbary sheep

noun wild sheep of northern Africa

Synonyms

Related Words