How to identify it
Rufous or grayish-brown above with a blackish stripe down the back; whitish belly and inner legs. [1]
Long hair on the throat, chest and front legs; no beard. [1]
Horns curve outward, backward and then inward, with transverse wrinkles; yellowish-brown, darkening with age. [1]
Females are much smaller (to about 65 kg) with smaller horns; males reach about 145 kg. [1]
Compared with the bighorn sheep: Aoudad have long hair on the throat, chest and forelegs; they share similar terrain and may compete with bighorns. [1]
Species it is confused with
Check these before deciding what you are looking at. If you are not certain what it is, do not shoot.
- Bighorn sheep · Ovis canadensis
Field notes
- Identification Do not identify Barbary sheep from colour alone. Compare structure, size, range and the listed similar species before making a field decision.[1]
Where it lives
Dry, rough, barren and largely waterless rocky terrain, similar to desert bighorn sheep country. [1]
How it behaves
Lives in small mixed-sex groups and climbs steep slopes expertly. [1]
Where it is listed for legal take
These authorities list this species for legal take in their own regulations.
Where legal take is listed
- California — hunting · 2026-2027 California Mammal Hunting Regulations (updated July 1, 2026)
- New Mexico — hunting · 2026-2027 New Mexico Hunting Rules & Information (v08.11.26)
- Texas — hunting · Outdoor Annual: Nongame, Exotic, Endangered, Threatened & Protected Species
Being listed is not an open season. Seasons, zones, licences, methods and limits decide whether this animal may be taken on a given day and place — check Hunt or the authority before you go. Listings read 2026-09-30.
Where it is found
Native to North Africa. Introduced to New Mexico (1950) and Texas (Palo Duro Canyon, 1957–1958) and now established in the Texas Panhandle canyons, Trans-Pecos and Edwards Plateau.
Sources
Every claim above is attributed to one of these published sources.
Natural Science Research Laboratory, Texas Tech University · reviewed 2026-09-30
Natural Science Research Laboratory, Texas Tech University