Ovis nivicola Eschscholtz 1829
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 nivicola

description: 205.
Snow Sheep
Ovis nivicola
French: Mouflon des neiges / German: Schneeschaf / Spanish: Carnero nival
Other common names: Siberian Bighorn Sheep; Putoran Snow Sheep (borealis)
Taxonomy. Ouvis nivicola Eschscholtz, 1829,
Kamchatka Peninsula.
Snow Sheep are unique in having a diploid chromosome number of 52. Taxonomic difficulties arise as to how many Snow Sheep subspecies should be recognized because of its wide distribution, geographic pelage color variation, and disjunct populations. For example, the “Putoran Snow Sheep” (borealis) is separated from the nearest other Snow Sheep population by about 1000 km. The numerous subspecies named and the differing number of subspecies recognized by taxonomists will require a detailed study using anatomical, karyological, and molecular genetic criteria to clarify relationships. The most recent classification recognizes four subspecies.
Subspecies and Distribution.
O.n.nwvicolaEschscholtz,1829—KamchatkaPeninsula.
O.n.borealisSevertzov,1873—NCSiberia,PutoranMtsSofTaymyrPeninsula.
O.n.koriakorumChernyavsky,1962—NESiberia.
O. n. lydekkeri Kowarzik, 1913 — E Siberia.
Descriptive notes. Head—body 136-188 cm (males) and 126-156 cm (females), tail 9-5-13 (males) and 7.5-13 cm (females), shoulder height 93-107 cm (males) and 90-94 cm (females); weight 56-105 kg (males) and 33-68 kg (females). Horn length 69-93 cm (males) and 23-27. 5 cm (females), horn basal circumference 25-36 cm (males) and 12-12. 4 cm (females). Snow Sheep have compact bodies and relatively short legs, which are adaptations for living in rocky, steep terrain. Females are usually uniformly brown in color. In males, the head, neck, chest, front of legs, and general body color usually are pale to dark brown, but body color also can be yellowish-white. Forehead, space between horns, and occiput can be white. There can be a dark transverse band on the nose bridge. A dark line is visible along the spine. White spots can be present behind the axillae. The groin and belly are white. There is a clearly defined rump patch below the base of the tail.
Habitat. Snow Sheep are found in or near precipitous terrain. They occur at elevations from almost sea level to 1800 m in habitats ranging from tundra to marine coastal escarpments at 100-300 m to low mountain ranges at 500-800 m. They also occur in precipitous terrain in river valleys, but may be found in areas with scattered larch trees (Larix spp.) and tall shrubs. Winter temperatures can reach —-60°C. Their predator is the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus). In the Putoran Mountains, 62% of wolf scats in summer and 4-8% in winter had Snow Sheep remains. Lamb mortality during the first year oflife is 30-50%. Wolverines (Gulo gulo), Brown Bears (Ursus arctos), Eurasian Lynxes (Lynx lynx), and large raptors are not significant predators.
Food and Feeding. The principal food of Snow Sheep is graminoids, with an increase in browse, including willow shoots, in winter. They also feed on mosses, lichens, and fungi. They can dig with their hooves in deep snow to search for forage. Heavy snows and icy conditions can result in heavy mortalities during winter because they are unable to obtain forage.
Breeding. Females reach sexual maturity at 1-5-2-5 years, and males reach sexual maturity at 1-5 years. The mating season occurs in November—-December. Females isolate themselves from the herd before lambing, which occurs in rugged, rocky sites. After a gestation period of 170-180 days, ewes usually give birth in May-June to a single offspring; however, twinning has been recorded. The highest recorded incidence of twinning in a population was 5%. Young males are prevented from mating by older males. Most males do not mate until they are 4-5 years old. During the rut, rams may travel up to 15 km /day in search of estrous ewes. The maximum longevity is 18 years.
Activity patterns. Snow Sheep are principally diurnal. Detailed studies have not been conducted.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Detailed studies of movements and home ranges have not been conducted. In Yakutia, seasonal movements of 50-120 km may occur. In some cases, movements are undertaken to locate areas with less snow cover. There are three kinds of herds: those composed of females with newborns and yearlings; those of young males; and groups of adult males. Occasionally single older males are seen. A study in Kamchatka recorded the following herd composition: 12% were single animals, 39% were 2-3 animals, 26% were 4-6 animals, 18% were 7-10 animals, and 5% were 11-12 animals.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. In the 1970s, about 5000 Snow Sheep were shot for food and pelts. Illegal hunting mortality is currently not usually significant. In the mid-1980s there were an estimated 85,000 -95,000 Snow Sheep. There are presently an estimated 7000 in Kamchatka, of which 150 are legally hunted each year, and there are about 5500 in the Putoran region. There are an estimated 1500 in the Chukotsk area. Population numbers and trends are not available for other populations. There is a need to establish a Snow Sheep monitoring program and to expand the number of protected areas. In areas where Snow Sheep have been extirpated, efforts should be made to reestablish populations.
Bibliography. Averin (1951), Baskin (1985), Baskin & Danell (2003), Bunch et al. (2005), Chernyavksy (1962, 2004), Egorov (1965), Ellerman & Morrison-Scott (1966), Fedosenko (1986), Groves & Grubb (2011), Grubb (2005), Harris & Tsytsulina (2008), Heptner et al. (1988), Krausman & Bowyer (2005), Nadler & Bunch (1977), Revin (1982, 1989), Revin et al. (1988), Tsalkin (1951), Valdez (1982), Weinberg et al. (1997), Zheleznov (2005).
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 693-694, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6512484