Overview
Horns can grow up to 40 inches (102 cm) in length and can weigh up to 30 lbs (14 kg), and can actually outweigh the rest of the bones in their bodies, combined. They have a thick black coat and are usually black all over, although some sport a white muzzle. Like the other species of sheep of this type, the horns grow up, back, down, forward, up again, and then tip out. The horns of young males are jet black, but can turn brown to light tan as they age. Females are often devoid of horns. Black Hawaiians have a mane that ranges from 3-8 inches (8-20 cm).
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Bovidae
- Genus
- Ovis
- Species
- Domestic hybrid sheep, Ovis aries x Ovis ssp.
Habitat
Distribution- Has increased to include private ranches throughout the lower 48. Some free-range animals can be found in Texas, California and Florida.
Diet
Primarily a browser, eating a variety of weeds and occasionally tender grasses. During the summer months the sheep will water daily and during the cooler months they may go up to three days without watering.
Behavior
As males mature, breeding dominance is established by fighting. As with most horned sheep, fighting consists of a series of head butts to determine a winner. Breeding occurs in August and September. Lambs are born in February and March.
Hunting
This hybrid was developed along with the Texas Dall and Corsican to offer hunters an inexpensive trophy complementing a successful hunt.
Conservation Status
There are no conservation concerns.