The Somali sheep (Ovis aries Somali), occasionally known as the Berbera Blackhead, is a hair sheep native to and Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya. Mainly reared for meat production, it is an ancestor of the Blackhead Persian which was bred in South Africa between the late 19th century to early 20th century and has been extensively used for crossbreeding in many tropical areas. It is hardy and thrives in arid and semi-arid conditions. As well as a distinctive black head, the Somali sheep has a peculiar shape, as it stores fat in its hindquarters.
