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Muflon


Muflon
Photo Information
Copyright: Libor Hlavaty (Libor) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 176 W: 1 N: 25] (1101)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-05-06
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 8800
Exposure: f/6.3
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2006-05-08 13:59
Viewed: 1575
Points: 8
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The mouflon is thought to be one of two original ancestors of all modern day sheep. It originated on the islands of Corsica, Sardina, and Cyprus, but has recently been introduced in much of Europe. Like most wild sheep, the mouflon lives in mountainous terrain, usually above the tree line or in mountain meadows. In Corsica it lives on steep-sided rocky peaks, where it is protected from predators.

It has a red-brown color with a dark area along its back, and lighter colored side patches. Its underparts are white as well as the bottom half of their legs. It has a white muzzle and white circles around its eyes.


The males and females have horns, but those of the males are larger. The curved, spiral horns are usually around 25 inches in length and are arch back over its head. The mouflon's horns don't flare out at the end as most wild sheep's do. The size of a male mouflon's horns determine his status in the group.

A mouflon is about the size of a medium sheep with a weight range of 55-120 pounds. They are 4-5 feet long, and stand about 2-4 feet tall at the shoulders. They have a rough coat, and during the winter grow a woolly under coat that keeps them warm.

The males and females live in separate groups and only come together during mating season. The ewes will usually have the better foraging grounds because their health is more important for reproduction. Mouflon mate, or go through a rut, in late autumn to early winter. The rams' dominance is determined by his age and the size of his horns. They will crash their horns together to re-enforce dominance. The ewes don't mate until they are about 2-3 years old. Males don't mate until they are about 7 years old because they have to establish a strong social standing before being allowed to mate with a female. The ewes are pregnant 210 days and can give birth to either one, or twin lambs. The ewe will go into cover to have her lamb which is up on its feet within minutes after birth.

The mouflon's diet is tough. Being a herbivore, it grazes on short grasses, heather, and shrubs. It has a multi-chambered stomach with special microbes that break down the cellulose of the plant cell walls. After it has eaten its fill, the mouflon will lie down somewhere, and regurgitate its food, chewing it a second time to soften it some more. It then swallows it again for the last time.

Natural predators like bears and wolves have all but disappeared from the mouflon's range. Eagles can pose a problem for young lambs, and the mouflon is still hunted for their trophy horns. The mouflon is a shy animal which feeds mostly at night and doesn't stay long in one place.
Iso-100
Time-1/138s
F-6.30
314mm
dkaved, CTP, jeanpaul, marhowie has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • dkaved Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 266 W: 18 N: 433] (2106)
  • [2006-05-09 12:17]

Hi Libor,
I think this image has a lot of potential with its beautiful landscape,interesting subject and nice cut but maybe it is missing something.There seems to be a bit of a lack in contrast with the animals merging with the colour of the earth and they are too close together to get a good view of them.The note is very good...learnt something new.
Regards, David

  • Great 
  • CTP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 647 W: 6 N: 1106] (3191)
  • [2006-05-09 19:16]

Hi Libor,
Excellent Nature shot with Cool looking Mouflons.
Nice pov,colors,focus,dof,framing,note and sharpness.Well Done.TFS
Chris

Hi Libor. Funny shot of this big family of muflon.
I made a WS with your picture.
Andrea

Bonjour Libor
jJe ne savais pas que vous aviez des moufflons en République Tchèque .La composition et les couleurs sont très belles.
Bravo et au revoir....JP

Nice shot Libor,
Interesting scene. The action of the Mouflon bottom left corner that's moving quickly forward. The small lamb that's looking at you..The dense forest behind makes a great backdrop as well..Nice colors & detail..I like it.
Well done and TFS!

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