The horns of a ram usually curve outward. Some breeds, however, are hornless and in other breeds, both rams and ewes have horns. Sheep walk on their hoofs, which are divided into two toes. The upper leg is very muscular enabling the animal to move quickly and easily. Sheep have no cutting teeth on the upper jaw, though they have eight on the lower jaw, plus six grinding teeth on the back part of each jaw.
Sheep are grazers, living on grasses, woods and shrubs.
They are also capable of going without water for long periods of time. The ewe, capable of bearing young once a year after one year of age, carries the developing fetus for about five months. Two days after birth the lamb is already sure footed. Sheep usually live about 13 years. At the Honolulu Zoo, we have three breeds of sheep, the Merino, the Jacob, and the Southdown.