1. The Social Lives of Rams
Rams are highly social creatures, born with the ability to walk and run shortly after birth. They flock together for protection, maintaining a flight zone between themselves and other animals. This flight zone is an important part of their social structure, allowing them to feel safe and secure in their environment. Rams are defenseless creatures, relying on their flock for protection from predators.
Also → Male sheep, or rams, weigh more than female ewes
Advertisement2. Adult Rams are Impressive Animals
An adult ram can be an impressive sight, with a weight ranging from 53 to 127 kg and a height to the shoulder of 32 to 40 inches. These animals are known for their impressive size and strength, and can be found in many parts of the world, from the mountains of Europe to the deserts of the Middle East. Rams are also known for their thick, curved horns, which can be used for defense and for competing with other males for mates.
Also → Female Impalas: Despite No Horns
3. Rams have a unique feature that sets them apart from other animals
Rams have a unique feature that sets them apart from other animals: a split in their upper lip. This split allows them to pick preferred leaves off of plants with precision and accuracy. This feature is especially useful for rams that live in areas with limited food sources, as it allows them to find the most nutritious leaves and avoid those that may be less beneficial.
Also → Rhinos Facing Extinction: Horns in High Demand
4. Curly Horned Rams Use Horns to Dominate and Protect
Rams are known for their impressive curled horns, which serve as both a status symbol and a weapon when competing for mating rights. These horns are used to battle other rams, and the size of the horns is often indicative of the ram's dominance in the herd. The horns are also used to defend against predators, and can be used to dig for food.
Also → Giraffes have two short horns on their heads
Advertisement5. Creatures of Habit?
Rams are creatures of habit, preferring to move into the wind and uphill rather than wading through water or squeezing through tight spaces. They are well-adapted to their environment, with their thick fur and large horns providing protection from the elements and helping them to navigate difficult terrain. Rams are also known for their agility and strength, allowing them to traverse steep inclines and navigate rocky terrain with ease. As a result, they are able to avoid the water and narrow openings that they would otherwise have to traverse.
Also → The Water Buffalo: An Impressive Creature
6. Herbivores Well-Adapted to Desert Climate
Rams are herbivorous animals, and their diet consists mainly of cacti, grasses, plants, and forbs. To get to the nutritious juice inside cacti, they use their hooves and horns to remove the spines. Rams are well-adapted to their environment, and their diet helps them to survive in the harsh desert climate.
Also → The History and Legacy of the St. Louis Cardinals
7. Rams' Incredible Sense of Hearing Keeps Them Safe
Rams are remarkable animals with an impressive sense of hearing, though their depth perception is not as sharp. They can live up to 15 years in the wild, and have been known to live up to 9 years in captivity. Their hearing is so acute that they can detect even the slightest of sounds, making them excellent at avoiding predators.
Also → Mountain Goats in Mating Season
Advertisement8. Herd of Rams is an impressive sight to behold
A herd of Rams is an impressive sight to behold, with the males, or Rams, leading the way. These Rams are easily distinguished from the females, or Ewes, by their larger size and horns. In some cases, a castrated male, known as a Wether, may also be present in the herd. Wethers are easily identified by their lack of horns.
Also → Viking Vikings don't wear helmets
9. Rams in the Rut: Physical Contests and Loud Vocalizations
During the rut, ruminant animals such as rams become highly active and competitive as they compete for mates. During this time, rams will engage in physical contests such as head-butting and ramming each other with their horns in order to establish dominance and win the right to mate. This behavior is often accompanied by loud vocalizations and can be quite a spectacle to witness.
Also → Llamas are Highly Social Animals That Prefer to Live in Herds
10. Female Rams Give Birth to 1-3 Lambs/Yr
Female "Rams" typically give birth to 1 to 3 lambs per litter each year, with a gestation period of 145 to 155 days. This period of time allows the lambs to develop and grow in the womb before they are born. After birth, the lambs will continue to grow and develop with the help of their mother's milk.
More facts on
- Cosmopolitan mammals
- Livestock
- Herbivorous mammals
- Mammals described in 1758
- Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus