Argali( Ovis ammon ):

Size: The argali , or the mountain sheep is the globally endangered wild sheep . It is also the biggest wild sheep, standing as high as 120 cm and weighing as much as 140 kg . The Pamir argali (also called Marco Polo sheep , for they were first described by that traveller) may attain more than 6 feet in length. The general colouration of argalis is variable, ranging from a light buff to darker grey-brown, with white hairs being interspersed in some cases (especially in older individuals).  The under-parts are whitish, and separated from the main body color by a darker band which runs along the sides. The face is noticeably lighter. In addition, males have a whitish neck ruff, which encompasses most of the neck's surface, and a dorsal crest, both of which are more prominent in the winter coat. Argalis have a whitish rump patch, although there is much variation between subspecies in terms of size and borders.  Adult males carry two enormous corkscrew-like horns, which can reach 190 cm when measured along the spiral.  Females also bear horns, although these are much smaller, rarely exceeding 30 cm in length.

Food: Argalis have large range of food resources such as various kinds of grass, herbs, sedges , leaf and tender branches.

Habitats: Argalis are found in mountainous areas between 3000 and 6000 metres above sea level, where there are dry alpine habitats. Argalis are highly gregarious animals, found in large single-sex herds that may number up to 100 individuals. During the mating season, these herds come together and males will compete for access to the receptive females. These are often violent and the clashing of horns can be heard reverberating around the mountains. About 5 months later, females give birth to a litter of 1 or 2 lambs; they separate from the main herd in order to give birth and the newborns remain hidden in the grass whilst their mother feeds. These sheep graze on grasses, herbs and sedges; herds may migrate to higher elevations during the summer months in search of fresh pasture.

Distribution: there is 10 subspecies of argali live in China . Most of the population located in Xinjiang. Other places are Gansu , Qinghai , Tibet , Inner Mongolia , Shaanxi , Shanxi etc.

Level of protection:  protects habitat and with careful monitoring the revenue obtained can be ploughed back into conservation. Two of the most at-risk subspecies , O. a. hodgsonii and O. a. nigrimontana , are listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)

Subspecies ：

Marco Polo Argali ( Ovis ammon polii ). Distribution: Xinjiang(western parts-Pamir Plateau and west Tianshan Mountain )

Adametzi Argali ( Ovis ammon adametzi ) . Distribution: Xinjiang( Lop Nur area)

Littedale Argali ( Ovis ammon littledalei ). Distribution: Xinjiang( Tianshan Mountain from Yining to Hami)

Sair Argali ( Ovis ammon sairensis ) . Distribution: Xinjiang( Jungger Basin and Sawuer Hill )

Jubata Argali or Shanxi Argali ( Ovis ammon jubata ) . Distribution: Nei Mongol(western part-Alxa area and midparts), Ningxia( Helan Mountain ), Gansu (western part-Mazong Hills of Northern Gansu) and Beijing

Gansu Argali ( Ovis ammon dalailamae ) . Distribution: Xinjiang(southeastern part-Altun Mountain )

Altay Argali （ Ovis ammon ammon ）.Distribution: Xinjiang(northern part-Altai Mountain )

Hodgsoni Argali or Tibetan Argali （ Ovis ammon hodgsoni ）. Distribution: Tibet , Sichuan (western part), Qinghai , Gansu (southern part-Qilian Mountain )

Gobi Argali( Ovis ammon darvini ) . Distribution: Gansu

Tian Shan Argali( Ovis ammon karelini ). Distribution: Xinjiang