Littledale Argali | Online Record Book Preview

Ovis ammon littledalei

Named after British sportsman St. George Littledale.

Most Western scientists do not consider the Littledale form a valid subspecies, but include it as a race of Tian Shan argali
(O. a. karelini). We list it because it is recognized by Chinese and some Russian scientists, and because it is a historical hunting category.

DISTRIBUTION Historically, Rowland Ward has given the range of the Littledale race as the central and eastern Tian Shan mountains, from southeast of Yining (Kuldja) eastward to Hami in eastern Xinjiang. Clark (1964) agreed in part, but limited littledalei to the northern Tian Shan north of the Ili and Künes rivers, from Yining eastward "perhaps as far as Hami," and also said it ranged westward to the Ala Tau range. Biologists in Kazakhstan feel that the argalis of the Dzungarian Mountains, which extend from the Dzungarian Gate westward along a segment of the Kazakhstan/China border, are littledalei. These sheep are said to be smaller than those in the Tian Shan and have differently shaped horns. On the other hand, Chinese authorities believe that the Dzungarian argalis are karelini. They limit littledalei to the small range that lies to the east of the Bogda Shan (eastern Tian Shan) and north and west of Hami, and feel that argalis in the main Tian Shan-on both sides of the Ili and Künes rivers-are karelini. As China is the only place where littledalei hunting is available, we are using its classification and boundaries.