The Barbary sheep, also known as the aoudad (Ammotragus lervia) is a species of caprid in the family [Bovidae. [source?] It is native to the Atlas Mountains of North Africa. [source?] The most distinctive characteristic of the Barbary sheep is while it's vulnerable and declining in it's native African range, it has been an invasive pest in Spain and the United States. [source?]
The Barbary sheep was first described by Peter Simon Pallas in 1777. In 1835, the English zoologist John Edward Gray moved the animal into its own distinct genus, Ammotragus. Over the years, scientists have used different scientific names for the animal before it's current classification. They are: Antilope lervia, Ovis lervia and Ovis tragelaphus. There are six recognized subspecies of Barbary Sheep, mostly divided by its geographic range in Africa.
The Barbary sheep has a long, fringed mane of hair that grows down their chest, throat and front legs. They have unique horns that sweep backward and outward in a semicircular curve. They have a long tail that ends in a tuft, whereas most wild sheep have short tails. [source?]
The Barbary sheep is found in the Atlas Mountains of North Africa. They live on cliffs, crags and Rocky slopes which helps them climb away from predators. They also thrive in very hot areas such as deserts and shrublands, where temperatures are hot in the day and cold at night. [source?]
They eat grass, weeds, leaves and twigs from brushes. They can get water from most of the plants they eat. Because of this, they can go without drinking water for a very long long time. Barbary sheep live in small groups which consist of their moms, their babies and a few young males. An older female leads the group. They have special rubbery hooves that help them jump from very steep rocky cliffs. This helps them protect from predators like leopards and caracals. Their sand colored fur matches the rocks perfectly. When they sense danger, they freeze and stay completely still. In places like the US, they are so good at surviving that they sometimes eat all the food, leaving nothing for the native animals. [source?]
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