#0214 · 🦊 mammals

Bighorn Sheep

🇳🇱 Dikhoornschaap ·Ovis canadensis

LCleast concern 🦊 Mammals 📍 outside Europe

9 photos from iNaturalist (Creative Commons) · credits & licences

what is it?

The bighorn sheep ( Ovis canadensis ) is a species of sheep native to North America named for its large horns. These horns can weigh up to 14 kg (30 lb), while the sheep themselves weigh up to 140 kg (300 lb). Recent genetic testing indicates three distinct subspecies of Ovis canadensis , one of which is endangered: O. c. sierrae . Sheep originally crossed to North America over the Bering land bridge from Siberia; the population in North America peaked in the millions,...

base stats

NL sightings 0iNaturalist, research grade
worldwide 34,022iNaturalist observations
threat LCleast concern

Bars compare against all animals on log scales: up to 300,000 Dutch and 600,000 worldwide sightings (the most-seen species), 150 t (blue whale), 30 m and 400 years (Greenland shark).

fun facts

No confirmed wild sightings in the Netherlands on iNaturalist: you'd have to travel for this one.
34,022 observations worldwide on iNaturalist.
Scientifically named by George Shaw in 1804 (222 years ago).