ass: African Wild Ass and the Donkey
African Wild Ass and the Donkey
The two wild subspecies of the African wild ass, called Nubian and Somali wild asses, are becoming rare. They are found in the mountains and deserts of NE Africa. The African wild ass averages about 53 in. (135 cm) in shoulder height; it is grayish in color, with longer ears and mane than the Asian ass, and with a characteristic loud, harsh bray. Its descendant, the donkey, is the oldest domestic beast of burden; it is believed to have been domesticated in Egypt by c.4000
The donkey is still used as a pack and draft animal. Although not as swift or powerful as the horse, it is strong for its size and has great powers of endurance. Donkeys are more surefooted than horses in mountainous country and are cheaper to maintain, as they feed on dry scrub. They may live up to 47 years, about twice as long as a horse. In some regions the donkey is crossbred with the horse to produce a mule.
The donkey was once widely used in Mexico and the SW United States, where it was known by its Spanish name of
Sections in this article:
- Introduction
- Classification
- African Wild Ass and the Donkey
- Tibetan Wild Ass
- Asian Wild Ass
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