Snow sheep
Encyclopedia
The snow sheep or Siberian bighorn sheep, is a species
of sheep, which comes from the mountainous areas in the northeast of Siberia
. One subspecies, the Putorana Snow Sheep (Ovis nivicola borealis) lives isolated from the other forms in the Putoran mountains
. The snow sheep is related to the North America
n Bighorn Sheep
and Dall's Sheep, and some zoologists consider it a subspecies
of this sheep.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of sheep, which comes from the mountainous areas in the northeast of Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
. One subspecies, the Putorana Snow Sheep (Ovis nivicola borealis) lives isolated from the other forms in the Putoran mountains
Putoran Mountains
The Putorana Plateau or the Putorana Mountains is a high-lying basalt plateau, a mountainous area at the northwestern edge of the Central Siberian Plateau, to the south from Taymyr Peninsula. The highest mountain in the range is Mount Kamen which stands above sea level.The plateau is composed of...
. The snow sheep is related to the North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n Bighorn Sheep
Bighorn Sheep
The bighorn sheep is a species of sheep in North America named for its large horns. These horns can weigh up to , while the sheep themselves weigh up to . Recent genetic testing indicates that there are three distinct subspecies of Ovis canadensis, one of which is endangered: Ovis canadensis sierrae...
and Dall's Sheep, and some zoologists consider it a subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of this sheep.
Subspecies
- Kolyma Snow Sheep, (Ovis nivicola ssp)
- Koryak Snow Sheep, (Ovis nivicola koriakorum)
- Okhotsk Snow Sheep, (Ovis nivicola alleni)
- Yakutia Snow Sheep, (Ovis nivicola lydekkeri)
- Kamchatka Snow Sheep, (Ovis nivicola nivicola)
- Putorana Snow Sheep, (Ovis nivicola borealis)
- Chukotka Snow Sheep, (Ovis nivicola ssp)