The Barbary sheep, also known as aoudad, is a species of caprine native to rocky mountains in North Africa. While this is the only species in genus Ammotragus, six subspecies have been described. Although it is rare in its native North Africa, it has been introduced to North America, southern Europe, and elsewhere. It is also known in the Berber language as waddan or arwi, and in former French territories as the mouflon.
Barbary sheep
Barbary sheep at London Zoo.
Juvenile
Barbary sheep
The subfamily Caprinae, also sometimes referred to as the tribe Caprini, is part of the ruminant family Bovidae, and consists of mostly medium-sized bovids. A member of this subfamily is called a caprine.
Caprinae
Skeleton of a Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) on display at the Museum of Osteology
Palaeoreas lindermayeri fossil
Image: Stuffed Arabian Tahr