Overview
Considered to be a small sheep. Rams grow impressive large open black horns. This sheep has a short tail, probably from the influence of the merino sheep, and has a medium frame with narrow black faces, thin clean legs and small feet with hard hooves. The skin is black and the fleece is typically a deep reddish brown color. The facial coloration is typically black, but may exhibit some degree of white coloring on certain animals.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Bovidae
- Genus
- Ovis
- Species
- Domestic sheep, Ovis aries
Habitat
Extremely steep cliffsides.
Diet
Mainly a browser.
Behavior
They are wary, quick on their feet and have a very nervous disposition. They are easily domesticated, possibly as a result of their Merino ancestry.
Hunting
Huntable populations are found on the Arapawa Island in the Marlborough Sounds at the Northeast tip of the South Island; Pitt Island and in numerous private and throughout the South and North Islands of New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Considered to be rare.