Bighorn sheep

Rare card · No. 51570

The bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) or bighorn is a species of sheep native to North America. It is named for its large horns, a pair of them may weigh up to 14 kg (30 lb); the sheep altogether typically weigh up to 143 kg (315 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, and the bighorn sheep entered into the mythology of Native Americans. By 1900, the population had crashed to several thousand due to diseases introduced through European livestock and overhunting.

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