# Urial (*Ovis vignei*) Urials are wild sheep that live in the mountains and grasslands. They have long, curved horns and beautiful reddish-brown fur. These animals are great climbers and can jump high to escape danger! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Urial](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/20170309_2597_Ulley-Leh_Urial.jpg&width=800) Photo: Fabrice Stoger, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20170309_2597_Ulley-Leh_Urial.jpg) ## Appearance The Urial has a reddish-brown coat that often darkens in winter, with a white belly. Males boast impressive, large, curled horns that sweep backward, and a distinctive dark ruff on their chest. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Bovidae - **Genus:** Ovis ## Interesting facts - Male Urials grow a long, dark throat ruff that becomes even more impressive in winter! - The large, curled horns of a male Urial can weigh more than its entire skull! - They communicate across vast distances using whistles and snorts to alert each other! - Urial lambs can stand and follow their mothers just a few hours after they are born! ## Special abilities - **Mountain Master:** Urial can climb incredibly steep, rocky slopes because of their strong, agile legs and specialized hooves for grip. - **Keen Sensor:** Urial has sharp eyesight and hearing that helps them spot predators from far away in open mountain habitats. - **Dry Forager:** Urial can digest tough, dry grasses and shrubs thanks to their robust digestive system, thriving in arid lands. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 110-190 cm - **Weight:** 25-90 kg - **Lifespan:** 8-12 years - **Speed:** 55 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-2 - **Gestation:** 150-170 days ## Diet & Feeding Urials munch on grasses, herbs, and leaves found in their dry mountain homes to get energy. - **Primary Foods:** Grasses, Sedges, Leaves, Shrubs, Forbs - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Snow Leopard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/snow-leopard) (*Panthera uncia*) — Snow Leopards hunt Urials in their mountain habitats. - **Eaten by:** Wolf (*Canis lupus*) — Wolves are a primary predator, hunting Urials in packs. - **Eaten by:** [Golden Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/golden-eagle) (*Aquila chrysaetos*) — Golden Eagles occasionally prey on young Urial lambs. - **Eats:** [Kentucky Bluegrass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/kentucky-bluegrass) (*Poa pratensis*) — Urials graze on various wild grasses for food. ## 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. - [Horned](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/horned): Characterized by having one or more hard, permanent, pointed projections on the head. - [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. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Threatened](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/threatened): Threatened status denotes a species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future without effective conservation interventions. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch from a distance and never try to touch wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Urial? 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 Urial? 110-190 cm ### How much does Urial weigh? 25-90 kg ### How long does Urial live? 8-12 years ### How fast can Urial move? 55 km/h ### What does Urial eat? Urials munch on grasses, herbs, and leaves found in their dry mountain homes to get energy. ### Where is Urial usually found? Mountain regions ### How does Urial 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: [Urial: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/urial)