Overview
Males are slightly larger than females. The short, dense coat is slate grey in colour, sometimes with a bluish sheen. The underparts and backs of the legs are white, while the chest and fronts of the legs are black. Separating the grey back and white belly is a charcoal colored stripe. The ears are small, and the bridge of the nose is dark. The horns are found in both sexes, and are ridged on the upper surface. In males, they grow upwards, then turn sideways and curve backwards, looking somewhat like an upside-down moustache. They may grow to a length of 80 cm (31 in). In females, the horns are much shorter and straighter, growing up to 20 cm (7.9 in) long.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Bovidae
- Genus
- Psuedois
Habitat
Found at very high altitudes.
Diet
Primarily consumes grasses but will browse when necessary.
Behavior
Blue sheep are active throughout the day, alternating between feeding and resting on the grassy mountain slopes. Due to their excellent camouflage and the absence of cover in their environment, Chinese blue sheep remain motionless when approached. Once they have been noticed, however, they retreat up cliffs, where they once again freeze, using camouflage to blend in.
Hunting
Blue sheep are usually hunted at higher altitudes than any other game animal. This is especially true in early autumn before there is snow to drive them down to lower elevations. At this time of year they can be at 16,000-17,000 feet (5,200-5,600 m) or even higher.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.