Donkey

simple.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey

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Donkey

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Perissodactyla

Family: Equidae

Genus: Equus

Binomial name

Equus africanus

Trinomial name

Equus africanus asinus

A donkey or ass (Equus africanus asinus) is a

mammal of the Equidae family.[1] The wild
ancestor of the donkey is the African wild ass, E.
africanus. The donkey has been used as a
working animal for at least 5000 years. There are
a number of other wild asses in different parts of
the world.

The name 'donkey' is correct for the domesticated Donkey, three weeks old
animal. It is the tame animal that people use for
transportation and other work, such as pulling a
carriage or plowing a field.

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Donkeys can have hybrid children with a common horse. The child of a female horse and a
male donkey is called a mule. The child of a female donkey and a male horse is called a
hinny. Mules are more common, and have been used for transportation.

Description
Donkeys, zebras and mules all look different from the common horses. One difference is
the ears.[2] Donkeys ears are much longer than a horse's. The necks are straighter and the
croup and rump are also a different shape.[2] The back is straighter.

The mane and tail of the donkey are rough. The mane is still and upright, almost always
standing up, and the tail is more like a cow's, most of it covered with short body hair.
Because their mane sometimes fly away, many donkeys wear their manes clipped short or
shaved close to the neck.[2]

Hoof shapes are different as well, donkey hooves are smaller and rounder, with more
upright pasterns. The legs should have good bone, but lots of donkeys have long thin legs
with tiny feet. Larger donkeys may appear opposite, with big, heavy legs and large round
feet.[2] Good legs and feet are very important for mules that are trying to find a mate. This is
because, for breeding, a good foot is more liked than a large body on small legs and feet.[2]

The donkey's voice is a very raspy kind, and it makes the "Aw-ee aw-ee" noise. Although
most people think donkeys are a gray color, sometimes they can have stripes, dark ear
marks, as well as the "light points".[2] This means that it has a white muzzle and white rings
around its eyes, and a white belly and inner leg.

Colors of the donkey may be from gray to brown. Or sometimes they can be black, both red
and gray, creamy white, or a unique spotted pattern.[2] Donkeys come in lots of different
sizes. Some, like the rare French donkey, has huge heads and ears, and very thick, shaggy
curled black coat. [2]

Donkeys vary considerably in size, depending on breed and management. The height at
the withers ranges from 7.3 to 15.3 hands (31 to 63 inches, 79 to 160 cm), and the weight
from 80 to 480 kg (180 to 1,060 lb). Working donkeys in the poorest countries have a life
expectancy of 12 to 15 years;

Caring for donkeys

Good grass hay and pasture is usually what donkeys enjoy to eat. If the hay or grass is
grained, the protein is best to be lower than 12%. However, if a donkey is overfed, it will
have a "roll" on the neck. A roll is when fat bunches up and stays in a part of a donkey's
body, and they usually happen on its neck or its hip.[3] If they develop on the donkey, it will
usually stay for its whole life. If the neck roll of fat gets too heavy, it will fall or "break over"
to one side and never recover its balance again. This is why donkeys should not be fed too
much. Many people do not like to work with donkeys. They think that donkeys are too
stubborn and will kick them. However, a donkey that is nicely trained can be as easily
managed as other horses.[3]

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References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Equus asinus.

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