The Barbary Sheep or Aoudad (Ammotragus lervia) is a goat-antelope found in rocky mountains in North Africa. There are two sub-species; Ammotragus lervia lervia, the "regular" Barbary Sheep and Ammotragus lervia ornatus, the Egyptian Barbary Sheep. The Egyptian sub-species was considered to be extinct, however recent evidence suggest it still exists.

Barbary Sheep stand 80 to 100 cm (30 to 40 inches) at the shoulder and weigh from 40 to 140 kg (90 to 310 lb). Barbary Sheep are sandy brown with a slightly lighter underbelly. There is some shaggy hair on the throat (Which extends down to the chest in males) and a sparse "mane". Their horns have a triangular cross-section. The horns curve outwards, backwards and then inwards. Horns reach up to 50 cm (20 inches).

Barbary Sheep are found in arid mountinous areas where they eat grass, bushes, lichen and acacia, which is all the plant there is in their habitats. Barbary Sheep are crepuscular, active in the early morning and late afternoon, resting in the heat of the day. They are very agile and can jump over two metres from a stand-still. Barbary Sheep are usually solitary.

References

Wacher, T., Baha El Din, S., Mikhail, G. & Baha El din, M. (2002). New observations of the ‘extinct’ Aoudad Ammotragus lervia ornata in Egypt. Oryx 36: 301–304.