Sheep

Domestic sheep (Ovis aries) are quadrupedal, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Like all ruminants, sheep are members of the order Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates.

Size: A sheep can be up to five feet in length and weigh between 165 to 440 pounds.

Life Span: Sheep can live anywhere from 8 to 13 years, depending on the species.

Color: Wild sheep are largely variations of brown hues, and variation with species is extremely limited. Colors of domestic sheep range from pure white to dark chocolate brown and even spotted or piebald.

Range: Asia, Europe, North America, and North Africa.

Habitat: Sheep are found in the mountains, tundra, and desert.

Food: Sheep eat grass, clover, weeds, and other pasture plants.

Reproduction: Sheep begin breeding at age two and have young every year after that. The gestation period is five months.

Fun Fact: Sheep can be milked just like cows. Their milk is used to make gourmet cheeses. Sheep are classified into four groups, depending on their fleece: fine wool, crossbred wool, medium wool, and coarse wool.