Scientific Name of Sheep

Scientific name of the sheep is Ovis Aries (domestic sheep). Sheep are members of the Bovidae family and the genus Ovis. They were among the first animals domesticated and bred. The Ovis genus includes various species, but Ovis aries specifically refers to the domestic sheep that have been an integral part of human agriculture for centuries. They are very gregarious animals that dwell in flocks. As domesticated ruminants, they have been bred for their wool, meat, and milk.

What is the Scientific Name of the Sheep?

The name Ovis Aries is scientifically derived from the Latin words “ovis,” which means “sheep,” and “Aries,” which means “ram”. The genus Ovis includes numerous different species, all of which are commonly referred to as “sheep.” Non-domestic examples include bighorn, mountain, and snow sheep. All sheep are members of the Mammalia class, namely the Bovidae family and the Caprinae subfamily. Wild mouflons found in Europe and Asia are thought to be the ancestors of domesticated sheep, while the precise boundary or line of descent remains uncertain. Sheep belong to the same order as even-toed ungulates, which is Artiodactyla.

List of Scientific Names of Sheep

The list of scientific names of sheep is as follows:

Sheep Name	Scientific Name
Snow Sheep	Ovis nivicola
Urial	Ovis orientalis vignei
Mountain Sheep	Ammotragus lervia
Rava Sheep	Ovis Aries
Wild Sheep	Ovis gmelini
Argali or mountain Sheep	Ovis ammon
Domestic Sheep	Ovis Aries
Bighorn Sheep	Ovis canadensis
Thinhorn or Dalli Sheep	Ovis dalli
Fossil Specie of mountain Sheep	Ovis gracilis

Characteristics of Sheep

Th various characteristics of sheep are as follows:

1. The genus Ovis includes all sheep species. They are herbivores and have cloven hooves. They are generally considered to be domesticated animals, although some species (such as the mouflon) are still found in the wild.
2. Sheep have a thick coat of wool that helps protect them from the cold weather. Sheep is a ruminant and has a four-chambered stomach. The sheep is a herding animal and is known for its docile nature.
3. Sheep and goats both are members of the Caprinae subfamily, however, they are not the same species and belong to different genera.
4. Sheep eat small vegetation close to the ground and ramble slowly. Goats can hunt for leaves, twigs, vines, and shrubs. Their agility and climbing ability allow them to reach alluring locations when foraging.
5. In general, sheep have more divergent horns that are stockier than goats. Scent glands can be found in the feet and cheeks of sheep. Even though they are rare, sheep’s horns differ substantially from those of goats. Unlike goats, male sheep do not have beards.
6. Sheep breed according to the seasons; females become fertile in the early autumn and continue to be so until the middle of winter. Estrus cycles last an average of 17 days, but they can last up to 20 days.
7. Sheep are nature’s weed eaters. They consume the weed’s blooms and vegetative shoots.
8. When sheep are properly grazed they benefit the land by aerating the soil with their hooves, which allows more oxygen and water to enter, pressing grass seed into the soil, so it can start growing and provides natural fertilizer.
9. The Ovines are social animals. They tend to roam in groups called flocks, which helps them survive predator assaults, protect from freezing winds in winter and help in locating food and grazing grounds. This is also one of the reasons they were among the first to be tamed.

Taxonomic Classification of Sheep

The taxonomic classification of domestic sheep is given below:

Classification	Scientific name	Common term
Kingdom	Animalia	Animal
Phylum	Cordata	Vertebrates
Class	Mammalia	Suckle young
Order	Ungulata	Hoofed mammals
sub-order	Artiodactyla	Even toed ungulata
Section	Pecora	Typical ruminants
Family	Bovidae	Hollow horned ruminants
Subfamily	Caprinae	Sheep and goats
Genus	Ovis	Sheep
Species	Ovis Aries or O.Aries	Domesticated sheep

FAQs – Scientific Name of Sheep

What is The Scientific Name of a Sheep?

The scientific name of the common sheep is Ovis aries. It belongs to the Bovidae family and the genus Ovis.

Is Sheep Called Ovine?

Scientifically, the sheep belong to the genus Ovis. With regards to this, the adjective Ovine can be used to describe the sheep. Although, there is a difference between calling a group of sheep and notifying them as Ovine. Group of Sheep called flock or Ovine, since they all belong to the same genus.

What is The Common Name For a Sheep?

There are many different names for a sheep, depending on the context and the language being used. Some common names include “sheep,” “ewe,” “ram,” “lamb,” “wether,” “hogget,” and “mutton.”

What is The Scientific Name for a Male Sheep?

Ovine – the scientific name for sheep. Ewe – a female sheep. Lamb – a sheep less than one year in age. Ram – a male sheep. Wether – a castrated male sheep.

Sheep Belongs to Which Kingdom and Class?

Sheep have been kept as livestock for their hair, skin, milk, and meat. Kingdom – Animalia. Phylum – Chordata. Class – Mammalia.

What are Some of the Common Species of Sheep?

Some of the common species of sheep are- Rambouillet, suffolk, deccani, Merino, Welsh mountain, border leicester, dorset, etc.

Name Some Varieties of Indian Sheep?

Some varieties of Indian sheep are- Nellore, chennai red, gaddi, vembur, mandya, marwari, trichy black, etc.