The bighorn sheep, Ovis canadensis, is a species of sheep in North America named for its large horns. These horns weigh up to 30 lb, while the sheep themselves weigh up to 300 lb. Recent genetic testing indicates three distinct subspecies of Ovis canadensis, one of which is endangered: O. c. sierrae. Sheep originally crossed to North America over the Bering land bridge from Siberia: the population in North America peaked in the millions, and the bighorn sheep entered into the mythology of Native Americans. By 1900, the population had crashed to several thousand, due to diseases introduced through European livestock and overhunting. Conservation efforts have restored the population.
In Zoo Tycoon
The American Bighorn Sheep is an adoptable animal in the original Zoo Tycoon. It is a highland animal.