Ovis vigne Blyth 1841

• Main Authors: Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Lynx Edicions 2011
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Taxonomy; Animalia; Chordata; Mammalia; Artiodactyla; Bovidae; Ovis; Ovis vigne; Astor; Kunar; Canis lupus; Ruff
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6636960; http://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F50713993AFF8206D3F6D0FC43F9C6

191. Ladakh Urial Owis vignei French: Mouflon urial / German: Ladakh-Wildschaf / Spanish: Urial de Ladakh Other common names: Shapo Taxonomy. Ouvis vigne: Blyth, 1841, Astor, Kashmir. Urial taxonomy is controversial; formerly urial species: Ladakh, Punjab (O. punjabiensis), Bukhara (O. bochariensis), and Afghan (O. cycloceros) recognized here, were usually classified as subspecies of O. orientalis, or all as subspecies of O. vigne:. (The name orientalis is based on a hybrid population in north-central Iran and is not usable.) Monotypic. Distribution. N India (restricted to the Ladakh region along the Shyok, Nubra, and Indus river valleys and their tributaries) and Pakistan (W bank of the Kunar River from Chitral S to Drosh and areas near the cities of Skardo and Gilgit). Descriptive notes. Few measurements available. Tail 10-125 cm, shoulder height up to 91-5 cm (males) and 68 cm (females). Adult male horn circumferences range from 23 cm to 26 cm. Horns of males tend to grow upward and then curve backward, but horn shape can vary. Horns of females rarely grow more than 13 cm. Males in the winter coat have a white bib and black neck ruff and usually a two-colored saddle patch, dark in front followed by white. Body pelage in winter is grayish. Diploid chromosome numberis 58. Habitat. In India, Ladakh Urials occur along river valleys, where they sometimes occupy a narrow band of low hills at elevations of 3000-4250 m, but usually occur in lower habitats. Habitats are characterized by sparse, xerophytic vegetation in alpine scrub communities classified as Arid Mountain Steppe. They use rockier, steep habitats and cliffs as escape terrain and travel corridors. Snow cover is usually light. The higher elevations are occupied by Siberian Ibexes (Capra sibirica) and Greater Blue Sheep (Pseudois nayaur). Gray Wolves (Canis lupus) and Snow Leopards (Panthera uncia) are the primary predators. Food and Feeding. The only available data on food habits are from two rumen samples examined in India in May. One stomach contained ...