Ovis aries

Sheep (domestic)

spacer

WILL'S SKULL PAGE

species list

glossary

contact

preparation

spacer

Sheep skulls used to be easy to find on moorland and marginal land but tighter regulations on dead stock mean that they are scarcer. Sheep skulls can be distinguished from most goat skulls by the convex upper contour of the muzzle ("roman nose"), compared to the generally concave outline of the goat, but some breeds of goat e.g. "anglo-nubian" have arched muzzles.

Also illustrated on this website: Anglo-nubian goat, various deer.

sheep skull

1. Horned sheep skull (Scottish Blackface), lateral view
 
Click for larger image

sheep skull

2. Hornless sheep skull, lateral view
 
Click for larger image

sheep skull

3. Hornless sheep skull, ventral view
 
Click for larger image

lamb skull

4. Sheep skull, neonate, lateral view
 
Click for larger image

Internet Resources

Standard references :
Smithsonian / Wilson & Reeder's Taxonomic List

Other Resources :
Scottish Blackface breed points

Taxonomy:
Order - Artiodactyla (cloven-hoofed)
Family - Bovidae (cattle)
Sub-family - Caprinae (goat-like)

Scientific Name:
Ovis "sheep" (Latin)
aries "ram" (Latin)

Dental Formula
U 0.0.3.3 - L 3.1.3.3

Measurements:  (defined)
Image 2,3
Overall length - 252mm
Overall width - 122mm (more)

Collection Data
Image 1
Stage - Adult
Sex - Female
Area collected - N. Cumbria, U.K.
Date collected - 1990
Source - Found on moorland
Collector - WH
Collection ref. - 90.008

Image 2,3
Stage - Adult
Sex - Female
Area collected - N. Cumbria, U.K.
Source - Found on moorland
Collector - WH

Image 4
Stage - Neonate
Area collected - N. Cumbria, U.K.
Date collected - 1996
Source - Found on moorland
Collector - WH
Collection ref. - 96.015

Valid HTML 4.01 Transitional

 

Skull Measurements (defined)

all measurements in mm

Specimen

OL

OW

JL

IW

PC

NL

UT

Sex

Comments

90.008

-

126

185

90

-

-

71.3

F

Scottish Blackface

image 2,3

252

122

-

86.6

-

114

72.3

F

Hornless

96.015

138

80.5

99.8

56.4

-

38.1

35.0

-

Neonate (lamb)