Bighorn Sheep & Mountain Goats

By Nachos

Photo Source: CC by JwanamakerRESEARCH QUESTION:

How are Bighorn Sheep good at climbing?
RESEARCH QUESTION:

How are Mountain Goats so good at climbing?

Picture Source: CC by Shaundd
SCIENTIFIC NAME: TYPE:DIET:GROUPLIFESPANSIZE
Ovis CanadensisMammal
even-toed ungulate
HerbivoresHerd6 to 15 years5 to 6 ft and weight 117 to 279 lbs
MOUNTAIN GOAT SCIENTIFIC NAMETYPEDIETGROUPLIFESPANSIZE
Oreamnos AmericanusMammal
even-toed ungulate
herbivoresHerd9 to 12 yearsHeight at shoulder, 3.5 ft and weight 100 to 300 lbs

 

WHY ARE MOUNTAIN GOATS AND BIGHORN SHEEP SO GOOD AT CLIMBING?

Sheep and goats are absolutely my favourite animal.  The are so cute and cuddly…but they are also courageous climbers.  What allows them have this superpower.

Look at these photos that National Geo ran last year by photographer Adriano Migliorati:

Close Up.
Can you believe this?
These goats are amazing.

These Ibex goats are crossing this nearly vertical dam in Italy.

Biomimetic Designers Take Note: Goat Hooves Confer Ninja-like Climbing Abilities BY RAIN NOE – MAR 23, 2011.
https://www.core77.com/posts/18851/biomimetic-designers-take-note-goat-hooves-confer-ninja-like-climbing-abilities-18851

Diagram


These feet may not look rubery but they are.

https://www.core77.com/posts/18851/biomimetic-designers-take-note-goat-hooves-confer-ninja-like-climbing-abilities-18851

HOOVES

  • goats have hooves that are made up  of two split toes
  • mountain goat’s foot has a  of a sharp outer rim that grips
  • its sole is rubbery and  provides traction on steep or smooth surfaces (kinda like the sole of a running shoe but much softer

Click on the site below to see 2 images of how the hoof is shaped:

Show me Nature Photography by Jim Braswell
<http://blog.showmenaturephotography.com/10551/blog/if-the-shoe-fits/>
Did you see the cute baby goat sleeping on the rock ledge?

Sources:
Mountain Goat Photo Creative Commons by  Shaundd <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Baby_mountain_goat_on_rock.JPG>

Bighorn Sheep Photo Creative Commons by Jwanamaker
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:New_Mexico_Bighorn_Sheep.JPG

Mountain goats have incredible cliff-climbing skills — here’s how they do it
https://www.businessinsider.com/mountain-goats-climbing-cliffs-how-do-they-do-it-2015-10

Bighorn Sheep by National Geographics.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/b/bighorn-sheep/

VIDEO:  Rock Climbing Goats by NatGeoWild
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtUz514rXKo>