Cyprus-Forum.com

[RichardB]

From wwf site

The island is home to a number of mammals such as the Cyprus moufflon (Ovis orientalis ophion), which is a rare type of wild sheep found only on the island of Cyprus.

Following on from oracles post Tallisker ( A fine scots malt I must add)

Although appearing to be of the same species

Is ther a marked difference between the Cypriot and the Corsican Moufflon?

Yes, here is the marked difference of the Cypriot mouflon.

And I was actually trying to be serious for once

Love it kafenes

[Talisker]

From wwf site

The island is home to a number of mammals such as the Cyprus moufflon (Ovis orientalis ophion), which is a rare type of wild sheep found only on the island of Cyprus.

Following on from oracles post Tallisker ( A fine scots malt I must add)

Although appearing to be of the same species

Is ther a marked difference between the Cypriot and the Corsican Moufflon?

Yes, here is the marked difference of the Cypriot mouflon.

Oh yes, I see what you mean - it does have a small penis doesn't it?

[Oracle]

From wwf site

The island is home to a number of mammals such as the Cyprus moufflon (Ovis orientalis ophion), which is a rare type of wild sheep found only on the island of Cyprus.

Following on from oracles post Tallisker ( A fine scots malt I must add)

Although appearing to be of the same species

Is ther a marked difference between the Cypriot and the Corsican Moufflon?

Thanks RichardB, yes I do taste delicious, but anyone who has too much of me will find their head spinning and may well fall over.

Dunno about variation between the subspecies, I'll do some searching, but Oracle, you're into genetics aren't you? Check this out..........
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070620154911.htm

Interesting, huh?

Indicative of a high mutation rate as would be expected for small-herding animals. Explains their suitability to small island conditions like Corsica and Cyprus.

By extrapolation a similar adaptive mechanism might explain the success rate of the native Cypriots in maintaining a majority on the island, despite repeated annihilation attempts by outsiders, who are less well adapted to small island conditions, having come from e.g. vast expansive Steppes.

[kafenes]

From wwf site

The island is home to a number of mammals such as the Cyprus moufflon (Ovis orientalis ophion), which is a rare type of wild sheep found only on the island of Cyprus.

Following on from oracles post Tallisker ( A fine scots malt I must add)

Although appearing to be of the same species

Is ther a marked difference between the Cypriot and the Corsican Moufflon?

Yes, here is the marked difference of the Cypriot mouflon.

Oh yes, I see what you mean - it does have a small penis doesn't it?

FIXED!!

[Talisker]

From wwf site

The island is home to a number of mammals such as the Cyprus moufflon (Ovis orientalis ophion), which is a rare type of wild sheep found only on the island of Cyprus.

Following on from oracles post Tallisker ( A fine scots malt I must add)

Although appearing to be of the same species

Is ther a marked difference between the Cypriot and the Corsican Moufflon?

Thanks RichardB, yes I do taste delicious, but anyone who has too much of me will find their head spinning and may well fall over.

Dunno about variation between the subspecies, I'll do some searching, but Oracle, you're into genetics aren't you? Check this out..........
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070620154911.htm

Interesting, huh?

Indicative of a high mutation rate as would be expected for small-herding animals. Explains their suitability to small island conditions like Corsica and Cyprus.

By extrapolation a similar adaptive mechanism might explain the success rate of the native Cypriots in maintaining a majority on the island, despite repeated annihilation attempts by outsiders, who are less well adapted to small island conditions, having come from e.g. vast expansive Steppes.

Your extrapolation is nonsense, particularly as the mouflon did not originate from Cyprus but from vast expansive Asian steppes or from the massive landmasses of Africa or the middle-East. And I also don't get off the plane in Cyprus, look around at the natives and think to myself - My God, look at the genetic variation in the people here - the mutation rate must be through the roof!

I'm interested to know the genetic variation between the subspecies - interesting parallels with Darwin's observations on finches perhaps? There must be some published work on this (the mouflons, not the finches) - just haven't sourced it yet...........

However, someone has cloned a mouflon - Sardinian one though.......
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/10/1025_TVsheepclone.html

[Talisker]

From wwf site

The island is home to a number of mammals such as the Cyprus moufflon (Ovis orientalis ophion), which is a rare type of wild sheep found only on the island of Cyprus.

Following on from oracles post Tallisker ( A fine scots malt I must add)

Although appearing to be of the same species

Is ther a marked difference between the Cypriot and the Corsican Moufflon?

Yes, here is the marked difference of the Cypriot mouflon.

Oh yes, I see what you mean - it does have a small penis doesn't it?

FIXED!!

But Kafenes, I think you'll find that's a McMouflin.........

[kafenes]

Wishful thinking Talisker.

[Oracle]

From wwf site

The island is home to a number of mammals such as the Cyprus moufflon (Ovis orientalis ophion), which is a rare type of wild sheep found only on the island of Cyprus.

Following on from oracles post Tallisker ( A fine scots malt I must add)

Although appearing to be of the same species

Is ther a marked difference between the Cypriot and the Corsican Moufflon?

Thanks RichardB, yes I do taste delicious, but anyone who has too much of me will find their head spinning and may well fall over.

Dunno about variation between the subspecies, I'll do some searching, but Oracle, you're into genetics aren't you? Check this out..........
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070620154911.htm

Interesting, huh?

Indicative of a high mutation rate as would be expected for small-herding animals. Explains their suitability to small island conditions like Corsica and Cyprus.

By extrapolation a similar adaptive mechanism might explain the success rate of the native Cypriots in maintaining a majority on the island, despite repeated annihilation attempts by outsiders, who are less well adapted to small island conditions, having come from e.g. vast expansive Steppes.

Your extrapolation is nonsense, particularly as the mouflon did not originate from Cyprus but from vast expansive Asian steppes or from the massive landmasses of Africa or the middle-East. And I also don't get of the plane in Cyprus, look around at the natives and think to myself - My God, look at the genetic variation in the people here - the mutation rate must be through the roof!

I'm interested to know the genetic variation between the subspecies - interesting parallels with Darwin's observations on finches perhaps? There must be some published work on this (the mouflons, not the finches) - just haven't sourced it yet...........

However, someone has cloned a mouflon - Sardinian one though.......
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/10/1025_TVsheepclone.html

I'll get back to you on this when the two hour difference does not put me at such a great disadvantage.

But the Mouflon on finding a new niche, having as I said originated probably from the Africa-Asian-European giant Land mass tens of thousands of years ago, would only have survived on a small island successfully, if it adapted to these conditions of having smaller herds to mate-select from. Hence becoming a sub-species ... as observed

The indigenous native Cypriots having been on the island for at least 10,000 years have also had plenty of time for niche adaptability characteristics to develop.

The most recent newcomers have only been on the island 400 years ... a comparatively insignificant time. Hence one present day sub-group would be better adapted than the other sub-group (cf finches if you will or red squirrels etc). Comparative numbers after a few hundred years are usually a good indicator of which is better adapted. (Of course cheating can occur with the reintroduction of new members from the original larger stock).

I think we should stop there because although I can see this purely from a scientific general discussion point of view others may not.

[SSBubbles]

From wwf site

The island is home to a number of mammals such as the Cyprus moufflon (Ovis orientalis ophion), which is a rare type of wild sheep found only on the island of Cyprus.

Following on from oracles post Tallisker ( A fine scots malt I must add)

Although appearing to be of the same species

Is ther a marked difference between the Cypriot and the Corsican Moufflon?

Yes, here is the marked difference of the Cypriot mouflon.

Oh yes, I see what you mean - it does have a small penis doesn't it?

FIXED!!

But Kafenes, I think you'll find that's a McMouflin.........

Are you Scottish then Talisker; or do you just enjoy a 'wee dram' or two?

[BOF]

Forgive my ignorance but i thought i read somewhere that the Mouflon was re introduced into Cyprus?? which seems to indicate that it was near to extinction but i am prepared to be corrected on this...
So how many Mouflon ARE there in Cyprus and where could one hope to see them?. When was a hunting ban put on them in Cyprus?
Regards
BOF