The Urial (Ovis vignei)...
The Urial is a medium-sized wild sheep and as such is considered a member
of the goat antelope subfamily. The Urial is also known as Shapo or Arkhar.
Noticeable features are the reddish-brown long fur that will fade during
the winter. Males are characterized by a black ruff stretching from the
neck to the chest and significantly larger horns.
Urial males have large horns, curling outwards from the top of the head
turning in to end somewhere behind the head, females have shorter,
compressed horns. The horns of the males may grow to be up 1 metre. The
average shoulder height of an adult male Urial lies somewhere between 80
and 90 centimeters.
The Urial is found in the mountain areas of Russia, India and central Asia.
The habitat consists of grassy slopes below the timberline. Urials rarely
move to the rocky areas of the mountains. The Urial feed mainly on grass but
are able to eat leaves of trees and bushes if needed.
The mating season begins in September. During mating the rams (which live
in their own herds when not mating) will select 4-5 ewes, who will give
birth to one or two lambs after 5 months.
The conservation status of the Urial is threatened as their habitat is
perfectly suitable for human development; the Urial population has been
recovering the last few years though.
The scientific classification of the Urial is disputed, but the Urial
can be said to fit into the taxonomic classifications of Ovis vignei, Ovis
orientalis and/or Ovis ammon. Subspecies of O. vignei include:
* Ovis vignei cycloceros (Afghan Urial),
* Ovis vignei punjabiensis (Punjab Urial),
* Ovis vignei vignei (Ladakh Urial).
Urial sheep are widely distributed in Asia minor. They are found from
southwestern Kazakhstan through Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan,
Afgahnistan, Pakistan, and into the Kashmir region of India. They range
eastward into Iran, and some are found in Oman, although that population
is thought to have been introduced.
Males of this species may weigh up to 90 kg and have a shoulder height up
to 1m. Overall, they are brown colored with a lighter coat in summer than
in winter. They have a distinct white rump patch below the base of the tail
and along the back of the hind quarters. Urial sheep have a black and white
saddle patch. Males have a black neck ruff which is restricted to the front
of the neck and brisket.
Males are reported to have massive horns, whereas female horns are much smaller.
Horn shape may be variable, but tends to be in a supracervical arangement. The
greatest horn length recorded was 990.6 mm and greatest basal circumference was
304.8 mm.
Urial sheep have antelope-like features, characterized by sinewy bodies and long
legs.
Urial sheep males are polygynous, but males do not accumalate a harem. Males
approach females slowly in a stretched posture. The female reacts by squatting
and urinating. The males then smells the female's urine to determine chemically
whether she is in estrus. Females in estrus are claimed by the dominant male.
After copulation, the dominant male gaurds female from other males until she is
no longer in estrous. Once the female is no longer receptive, the male will leave
in search of another female in estrus.