KARAKUL SHEEP
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ovis aries aries karakul
HOUSE NAME: Males "Roscoe" & "Guthrie"
HABITAT: High-altitude deserts of Central Asia but are adaptable to many habitats.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern
DIET: Vegetation, especially grasses.
FUN FACT:
The Karakul is one of approximately 1,200 breeds of domestic sheep. Named after the village of Karakul in Uzbekistan, the Karakul breed is one of the oldest. Archaeologists have found evidence of Karakul pelts from 1400 B.C., and carvings in ancient Babylonian temples probably represent Karakul sheep.
Above: Guthrie, darker face without horns.
Below: Roscoe, lighter face with horns.
DESCRIPTION:
The Karakul sheep is a medium-sized, broad-tailed sheep. The upper part of the tail stores fat for times when food is scarce, similar to the hump of a camel. This is a tall sheep with a long, narrow body and head. The ears vary within the breed but are usually long and point downward. Most rams have horns, which vary from short to large outwardly curved spirals. Ewes usually do not have horns. This breed has a dominant black gene, so most lambs are born black. As they mature, they take on other colors. Adults are usually brown or bluish gray, but silver, blue, gray, golden tan, reddish brown, and white adults are also seen. Adult males weigh 175-225 pounds, and females weigh 100-150 pounds.