Marco Polo sheep

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
Marco Polo sheep
An old engraved print of a sheep with very large curved horns, pictured in profile. The wool is short and the color of the abdomen and head are darker than the legs and neck.
Engraving of a Marco Polo sheep, c. 1883
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Caprinae
Genus: Ovis
Species: O. ammon
Subspecies: O. a. polii
Trinomial name
Ovis ammon polii
Blyth, 1841[1]

The Marco Polo sheep (Ovis ammon polii) is a subspecies of argali sheep, named after Marco Polo. Their habitat is the mountainous regions of Central Asia. Marco Polo sheep are distinguishable mostly by their large size and spiraling horns. Their conservation status is "near threatened" and efforts have been made to protect their numbers and keep them from commercial hunting. Research has also been carried out into possible agricultural uses of their horns, meat, or wool.

Contents

[edit] Etymology

The binomial name of the species is Ovis ammon,[2] described by Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758,[1] and all members of the species are commonly called "argali".[3] The Marco Polo sheep Ovis ammon polii was first described by Indian zoologist Edward Blyth in 1841.[3]

Another subspecies of Ovis ammon, the Siberian or Altai argali, is known as the nominal subspecies Ovis ammon ammon.[3] "Polii" in the common name originates from the explorer Marco Polo, who discovered them in his travels to the Orient, and described them in his 13th century book, The Travels of Marco Polo.[4] Synonymous Latin names for "O. a. polii" include "O. a. poli", "O. a. poloi", "O. a. sculptorium", and "O. a. typica".[5] The sheep are also commonly called "Marco Polo's Argali".[6]

[edit] Characteristics

The sheep is particularly known for its long, spiraling horns which have been measured having a span up to 140 cm (55 in).[7] They have the longest horns of all sheep,[8] with the longest individual horn ever recorded measuring 1.9 m (6.2 ft) and weighing 60 lb (27 kg).[9] O. a. polii's horns follow a coil pattern, with the tips pointed directly away horizontally from the head.[10] They begin growing 15-20 days after the sheep are born, and their growth in length is most pronounced during the first year.[11] Thickness growth is most noticeable during the first two years.[11] Its horns have long been a popular attraction for trophy hunters.[2]

Ovis ammon sheep are colored a dark brown, with white underparts: the two different sections are separated by a dark band of hair.[12] There is a white patch on the rump as well, which is not so clearly defined on most subspecies except O. a. polii.[6] As winter approaches, the white hair on males grows longer, until it becomes a prominent ruff,[12] although on O. a. polii the ruff stands out less than other subspecies.[6] Females' coats are lighter than the male's,[13] and do not have such a drastic seasonal change.[10] Marco Polo sheep's face is lighter colored than the body.[6]

Most argali have a round tail approximately 6 to 10 centimetres (2.4 to 3.9 in) long, ending in a tuft of hair;[10] O. a. polii's tail is a little bit longer: around 12 to 16 centimetres (4.7 to 6.3 in).[6]

Mature rams on average weigh 126 kg (280 lb).[14] At the withers, rams grow to approximately 113 cm (44 in) in height and ewes to 100 cm (39 in).[15] The sheep rut in December.[11] Gestation lasts about 160 days,[16] with single births being normal and twins uncommon.[17] Marco Polo sheep have an average life span of 13 years.[17]

No data have been compiled showing the susceptibility of the sheep to disease, although tests have been run on similar species of sheep and the data may be similar.[18] Since Marco Polo sheep are hesitant to approach people, it is not likely that they can catch diseases common to domestic herds.[18] However, some herd animals are allowed to run wild over the mountains, and it is unknown if they come into contact with Marco Polo sheep.[19]

[edit] Habitat

Most Marco Polo sheep live in the Pamir Mountains region adjacent to the borders of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and China.[20][21] Their elevation ranges from 3,700 to 4,800 m (12,000 to 16,000 ft) above sea level;[7] The subspecies lives mainly in the northwestern part of the Hunza district along the Chinese border,[22] inhabiting the Kilik Mintaka border and the northwestern area of Khunjerab National Park.[9][22] Marco Polo sheep also inhabit the Wakhan Corridor, along the Afghanistan border.[23]

[edit] Behavior

The behavior of Marco Polo sheep is basically identical to that of North American sheep: basically, behavior patters for all of Ovis are quite similar.[24] Marco Polo sheep generally live in small herds of a few dozen.[3] During the summer, they break into smaller herds of the same sex.[24] During the rut, however, they group together to form larger groups for protection, as well as conserve energy.[25]

[edit] Conservation

The head of a sheep with long, curved horns is mounted on a wooden plaque hung on a wall as a hunting trophy
A Marco Polo sheep head as a hunting trophy, mounted on a wall

Wildlife researchers conclude the Marco Polo sheep is under threat of extinction due to widespread commercial hunting.[26] In 1976, in Khunjerab, their population was estimated to be 300.[22] This number declined to a maximum of 160 between 1978 and 1981, and declined again to only 45 in 1991.[22] George Schaller of the Wildlife Conservation Society estimated the worldwide population in 2003 as around 10,000, half what Ronald Petocz estimated in his 1973 tour.[8] Their population density has been recorded as fewer than two animals per 1 square kilometre (0.39 sq mi).[12] Schaller has taken a role in conservation efforts, recently launching a campaign to save the species.[27] The Marco Polo sheep was included on the first list of protected species issued by the Afghanistan National Environmental Protection Agency, in June 2009.[28] The Wildlife Conservation Society is seeking to organize a protected area for the sheep of about 50,000 km2 (19,000 sq mi) straddling the borders of the four involved countries.[8]

The Khunjerab National Park was established primarily as a means to protect the Marco Polo sheep (as well as Snow Leopards and Bharal) living in the area.[29] The borders of the park were mapped by Schaller in 1974, after a short field survey. The park was formally established on April 29, 1979 by Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who said that "it must become a world famous park".[30] Despite being listed as a category 2 national park, banning human activities including

Some tall, bluegrey mountains rise out of brown soil below a deep blue sky
Mountains in the Khunjerab National Park

agriculture and hunting, the park was poorly managed, meaning that illegal hunting of the Marco Polo sheep continued. Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature commissioned Norwegian biologist Per Wegge to do a wildlife survey of the park in 1988.[31] Wegge found that there was no evidence of competition between the domestic sheep being illegally grazed and the wild Marco Polo sheep, and that most of the illegal hunting was not being done by local Wakhi residents, but by Pakistani military and civil officials.[31] He therefore proposed that the park be reclassified, allowing grazing and commercial hunting, with the profits going to local residents. However, the government overlooked Wegge's suggestions, instead drawing up a new management plan, which both the IUCN and the World Wildlife Fund supported as a means to preserve the park and protect the wildlife. Wegge was critical of the government scheme, claiming that it was based on financial considerations, with the Pakistani government hoping to attract tourists to the area. The IUCN agreed with this, and has since distanced itself from the national park.[32] To help protect the animals from poaching, the WWF has created the Khunjerab Village Organization.[33]

[edit] Agriculture

According to Marco Polo's original description of the sheep, the horns (which he described as "as much as six palms in length")[2] were used by shepherds to craft large bowls, or to build pens for the flocks.[34] The meat of the sheep may be crossed with that of domestic sheep to provide larger cuts with leaner meat.[35] Additionally, as the meat of Marco Polo sheep is said to lack the muttony flavor of domestic sheep meat, researchers for the United States National Research Council Advisory Committee on Technology Innovation concluded that the meat of a cross may prove popular with consumers.[36] However, Marco Polo sheep could be bred for more than just meat: their horns could be valuable, as could their hides or their wool, which can be used to make pashmina.[37]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ The IUCN redlist lists endangered animals by species: although the IUCN recognizes the subspecies, it does not give the status of each one. The species Ovis ammon has been listed as "near threatened". (Harris & Reading 2008)

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Wilson & Reeder 2005
  2. ^ a b c Schaller & Kang 2006
  3. ^ a b c d Dohner 2002, p. 66
  4. ^ Bergreen 2007, p. 74
  5. ^ Fedosenko & Blank 2005, p. 2
  6. ^ a b c d e Magin & Groombridge 1994, p. 2
  7. ^ a b British Museum 1885, p. 44-45
  8. ^ a b c Lovgren 2006
  9. ^ a b Dan 2006
  10. ^ a b c Magin & Groombridge 1994, p. 1
  11. ^ a b c Fedosenko & Blank 2005, p. 6
  12. ^ a b c Huffman 2004
  13. ^ Fedosenko & Blank 2005, p. 3
  14. ^ Ward 1887, p. 43
  15. ^ Petocz 1978
  16. ^ Geist 2009
  17. ^ a b Roberts 1998
  18. ^ a b Ostrowski 2007, p. 36
  19. ^ Ostrowski 2007, p. 38
  20. ^ Ives 2004, p. 40
  21. ^ Wildlife Conservation Society 2006, p. 14
  22. ^ a b c d Shackleton 1997, p. 259
  23. ^ Miller 2006, p. 9
  24. ^ a b Petocz 1978, p. 27
  25. ^ Petocz 1978, p. 28
  26. ^ Satkeev 2008
  27. ^ Long 2008
  28. ^ Department of State 2009
  29. ^ Kemf 1993, p. 141
  30. ^ Kalland & Bruun 1995, p. 108
  31. ^ a b Kalland & Bruun 1995, p. 109
  32. ^ Kalland & Bruun 1995, p. 110
  33. ^ Khan 2008
  34. ^ Childress 2007, p. 63
  35. ^ Spillett, Bunch & Foote 1975, p. 1014
  36. ^ United States National Research Council 1983, p. 100
  37. ^ Sharma 2002, p. 253

[edit] Sources

[edit] External links

Search Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ovis ammon polii
Search Wikispecies Wikispecies has information related to: Ovis ammon polii
v • d • e
Argali (Ovis ammon) subspecies
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Polo_sheep"