Mouflon Ovis orientalis /musimon

The Mouflon is the wild ancestor to most domestic sheep (Ovis aries). Mouflon are native to the Middle East and Caucasus and were introduced to parts of Europe (mainly islands of Corsica, Sardinia, Cyprus, Canaries) where there are feral and farmed populations.

The male European Mouflon (ram) - Ovis orientalis musimon or Ovis musimon - is generally redish brown with a white saddle bordered with black lines, a black neck ruff and large circular horns. The saddle is often absent. The female (ewe) can have small horns or no horns.

The taxonomy of the Mouflon is complex, with some authorities naming one species with multiple subspecies, others naming two species: the Urial (Ovis vignei) and the Mouflon (Ovis orientalis), with subspecies and some with more distinct species.

They are hardy and live in steep, rocky mountain forests. They are closely related to the TransCaspian Urial.

Above is the Cyprus Mouflon, Ovis orientalis ophion, endemic to Cyprus and sometimes given its own distinct species of Ovis ophion or subspecies Ovis gmelini ophion. Females shown.