# Shetland Sheep Shetland sheep are small, fluffy animals with adorable faces! They love to graze on grass and are known for their soft wool that can be used to make warm clothes. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Habitat:** Shetland Islands, Scotland - **Also known as:** Fluffy Sheep, Scottish Sheep, Shetland Pony Sheep ![Shetland Sheep](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Shetland_sheep_moorit.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jean, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shetland_sheep_moorit.jpg) ## Appearance The Shetland Sheep is a small, hardy sheep with a compact body and fine, soft wool. Its fleece comes in an astonishing 11 main colours and 30 markings, making each sheep uniquely patterned. They often have small, erect ears and can be horned or hornless. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Bovidae - **Genus:** Ovis ## Interesting facts - Shetland sheep can have horns, but many are naturally born without them, called 'polled'! - Some Shetland sheep love to snack on nutrient-rich seaweed found along ocean shores! - Their wool is so incredibly soft, it's often called 'the cashmere of the sheep world'! - They are one of the smallest sheep breeds on Earth, perfect for their rugged island homes! ## Special abilities - **Natural Shedders:** Shetland Sheep have a unique 'rooing' ability, naturally shedding their fleece each spring, which helps them stay cool without needing to be shorn. - **Extreme Hardiness:** Shetland Sheep can survive harsh, cold environments thanks to their thick, multi-layered fleece and efficient foraging, allowing them to thrive. - **Diverse Grazer:** Shetland Sheep can efficiently browse on sparse vegetation, including tough grasses, heather, and even seaweed, which helps them find food in barren lands. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 50-70 cm - **Weight:** 35-55 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-14 years - **Speed:** 25 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-2 - **Gestation:** 145-150 days ## Diet & Feeding These sheep are grazers, mostly munching on grasses, herbs, and other plants they find. - **Primary Foods:** Grasses, Heather, Sedges, Herbs, Seaweed, Rushes - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Heather](https://www.snappit.app/explore/heather) (*Calluna vulgaris*) — They graze on heather, an important food source in moorland habitats. - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Foxes can occasionally prey on young or weak Shetland lambs. - **Parasitizes:** Liver Fluke (*Fasciola hepatica*) — This common parasite can affect the liver health of sheep. - **Shelter:** [Human](https://www.snappit.app/explore/human) (*Homo sapiens*) — Humans provide care, shelter, and protection for these domesticated sheep. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Shetland Sheep? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Shetland Sheep? 50-70 cm ### How much does Shetland Sheep weigh? 35-55 kg ### How long does Shetland Sheep live? 10-14 years ### How fast can Shetland Sheep move? 25 km/h ### What does Shetland Sheep eat? These sheep are grazers, mostly munching on grasses, herbs, and other plants they find. ### Where is Shetland Sheep usually found? Shetland Islands, Scotland ### How does Shetland Sheep hunt? Grazing ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Shetland Sheep: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shetland-sheep)