Average Mass:
115 kg (253lb)

Average Shoulder Height:
97 cm (38")

Rowland Ward:
66.04 cm (26")

SCI:
ED

Track: 76mm (3") x 60mm (2 3/8")

Like most desert dwellers, the aoudad is most active in the cooler hours of dawn and dusk, seeking shade and shelter during the day.  Aoudad are exceptionally sure-footed and have such jumping power that they can clear a 2 meter / 6.6 foot obstacle with ease from a standing start.  The lack of vegetation for cover in their habitat has caused the aoudad to conceal itself by freezing in the presence of danger.  Although they can generally obtain all needed moisture from their food, if water is available aoudad drink and wallow liberally.

According to Wilson & Reeder (1993), this species inhabits the Sahara Massif and plateaux from western Sahara ( Morocco ) to western Egypt and from Mali to Sudan (it has also been introduced in USA , Mexico and Spain ), but its presence is currently highly fragmented over the whole range. The distribution map in Fig. 8.6.44.a was obtained from Shackleton (1997), by joining ten separate country maps as suggested by Dr. D. M. Shackleton ( 2 April '97 ), who revised and updated it.

Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model

The species occurs in desert hills and mountains, hammadas and wadis. It also inhabits habitat types containing Quercusilex in Morocco (Loggers et al., 1992; Kingdon, 1997).