Ovis polii Blyth 1841
Creators: name: Don E. Wilson
name: Russell A. Mittermeier
Publisher: name: Lynx Edicions
Year: 2011
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Artiodactyla
Bovidae
Ovis
Ovis polii

description: 200.
Marco Polo Argali
Ovis polii
French: Mouflon de Marco Polo / German: Pamir-Wildschaf / Spanish: Argali del Pamir
Other common names: Marco Polo Sheep, Pamir Argali
Taxonomy. Ovis poli Blyth, 1841,
Pamir Plateau, Russian Turkestan.
Usually classified as a subspecies of O. ammon. There appears to be high genetic variation and connectivity between populations in Tajikistan and the Wakhan District of Afghanistan, but based on molecular genetic studies, argali in adjacent area of Taxkorgan, China, appear to be isolated. Monotypic.
Distribution. E Kyrgyzstan, E Tajikistan, N Afghanistan, N Pakistan, and W China.
Descriptive notes. Head-body 160-180 cm (males) and 143-5 cm (females mean), tail 8:5-11. 3 cm (males) and 9-2 cm (females mean), shoulder height 101.5-120 cm (males) and 87-2 cm (females mean), ear 10-10. 7 cm (males) and 10-6 cm (females mean); weight 100-124 kg (males) and 48.5-61. 5 kg (females). Horn length up to 190 cm (males) and 33-49. 5 cm (females), horn girth at base 32-47 cm (males) and 13.5-16 cm (females), horn mass 7.7-14. 4 kg (males). They have the longest but not the most massive horns, and basal horn circumferences are greater in the Altai Argali (O. ammon). Marco Polo Argali juveniles are significantly heavier than neighboring Tianshan (O. karelini) and Kazakhstan Argali (O. collium) juveniles of the same age. In winter coat, general body color on the back and body sides can be reddish-brown or rust-cinnamon-brown, but usually it is a paler grayish-brown or buff. The large white rump patch, which can have a distinct border with the body hair or have a gradual transition in light-colored individuals, extends from above the tail to the entire hindquarters and joins with the white thighs, hindlegs, belly, chest, and forelegs. The hair forming the neck ruff, which is about 14 cm long and is longer than body hair, covers the entire neck; it is pale and blends gradually with the body hair color. The neck ruff is absent in females. The general body color of females is similar to that of males except that the back of the neckis light brown.
Habitat. Marco Polo Argali are usually associated with Pamirs, a Central Asian landform consisting of montane areas with broad valleys and steep to gently undulating hills above 3000 m, flanked by rugged mountain ranges. Marco Polo Argali occur in habitats up to 5700 m. They prefer undulating terrain. Their long-legged antelopian bodies are adapted for out-running predators. They descend into valleys to cross between mountains and to feed, but they will ascend precipitous terrain to escape from predators. They are associated with well-drained soils, and during winter, areas cleared of snow by wind. They avoid areas with tall vegetation. They are sympatric with Siberian Ibex (Capra sibirica), but ibexes usually occur in precipitous terrain. Gray Wolves (Canis lupus) are their principal predator. Based on skeletal remains of 145 argali in Kyrgyzstan, 37-5% had been killed by wolves. Of these, 78% were rams greater than five years old and 43% were rams over seven years old. Marco Polo Argali are more vulnerable to predation during the winter, when marmots are in hibernation and Wolves concentrate on argali as their principal prey. Argali, especially older rams with large horns, are particularly vulnerable in deep snow, where running is difficult. Death rates of adult males were 33% for 4-5year-olds, 21% for 6-8year-olds, and 21% for those greater than eight years old. Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) occasionally feed on argali, but their principal prey consists of Siberian Ibexes and Greater Blue Sheep (Pseudois nayaur). Lambs can be preyed upon by golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) and bearded vultures (Gypaetus barbatus) but predation by raptors is insignificant. Lamb mortality in one study was 67%.
Food and Feeding. Marco Polo Argali are primarily grazers. Grasses, sedges, and forbs are their primary foods; grasses and forbs can comprise 59-88% of their diet, based on stomach samples. In the Tajik Pamirs, males consume 18 kg and females 16 kg of vegetation per day.
Breeding. Females attain mating age at 1-5-2-5 years. Males can reach sexual maturity at two to three years but do not participate in the rut until they are four to five years old. Mating occurs in December—January, and after a gestation period of 155-165 days, single offspring are born in the latter half of May and first half ofJune. In Kyrgyzstan, both the rut and births are about half a month earlier. In the Pamirs, lamb—ewe ratios were 45: 100 in September and 32: 100 in November. In an increasing population in Kyrgyzstan, lamb—ewe ratios can be as high as 67: 100 in summer.
Activity patterns. Marco Polo Argali are active throughout the day, with feeding periods alternating with resting periods. On sunny, warm days they are active in the morning and evening. Lactating females usually spend less time resting and a longer time feeding than males because of the higher energy demands.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Detailed studies of movements and home ranges of Marco Polo Argali have not been conducted. During spring, males separate from female herds and move to higher elevations, but they can also shift from southto north-facing slopes. Herds can be classified according to sex and age composition: these include female, lamb, and yearling herds; male-only herds; and mixed-sex herds. Male herds are usually rams of similar age or social status, but the herd composition can vary. During summer, yearlings can form small separate herds but remain close to female groups. Yearlings can also join adult ram herds; in Kyrgyzstan, 17-4% of male herds had yearlings. Two-year-old males can remain with female herds, but also can join herds of younger rams. Larger herds of up to 500 animals of mixed composition can be observed, especially in winter, but these are usually aggregations of several smaller herds. In Tajikistan, males older than five years comprised 6-3% of the population. Population densities in protected areas may exceed 2-5 ind/km?.
Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II (under O. ammon). Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List (under O. ammon). Major threats to Marco Polo Argali include illegal hunting, overgrazing by domestic livestock and associated human disturbance, and dogs, which chase and occasionally kill argali. Livestock encroachment is the greatest long-term threat; livestock displace argali. Livestock can also transmit diseases and parasites such as pasteurellosis, rinderpest, malignant anthrax, and coccidian infections. Commercial hunting for meat and skins in the past accounted for 1000-4000 animals/year (a conservative estimate). Currentillegal subsistence hunting probably exceeds 500 animals/year. Even in protected areas, humans account for almost two-thirds of annual loss of males. The current population in the Tajikistan Pamirs is about 25,000, and an estimated 5000 occur in the Tianshan Mountains of Kyrgyzstan, mostly in the border-zone areas. Populations in China and Afghanistan have been greatly reduced due to degraded range conditions and illegal hunting. There are an estimated 2500 in China and less than 1000 remain in Afghanistan. In Pakistan, during the construction of a highway through prime argali habitat, Marco Polo Argali were killed for food and sport. Marco Polo Argali in Pakistan do not exceed 150 and most are present only in the winter when they cross into Pakistan from China.
Bibliography. Baskin & Danell (2003), Ellerman & Morrison-Scott (1966), Fedosenko (2000), Fedosenko & Blank (2005), Fedosenko et al. (1995a, 1995b), Geist (1991a), Groves & Grubb (2011), Grubb (2005), Harris & Reading (2008), Harris et al. (2010), Heptner et al. (1988), Kapitanova et al. (2004), Magomedov et al. (2003), Meklenburtsev (1948), Michel (2010), Roberts (1997), Schaller (1977), Schaller & Kang Aili (2008), Schaller et al. (1987), Tallone (1993), Valdez (1982), Wang Sung et al. (1997), Weinberg et al. (1997).
description: Published as part of Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2011, Bovidae, pp. 444-779 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 2 Hoofed Mammals, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on pages 690-691, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6512484