Asinus
| Asses | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Perissodactyla |
| Family: | Equidae |
| Genus: | Equus |
| Subgenus: | Asinus |
| Species | |
Asinus, commonly known as asses, is a subgenus of Equus that encompasses several species of Equidae characterized by long ears, a lean, straight-backed build, a scant tail, and a reputation for considerable toughness and endurance.
The common donkey or "ass" is the best-known representative of the subgenus, with both domesticated and feral varieties, ranging in size from the small burro to the horse-sized "Mammoth Jack" and other breeds. There is not a formal cutoff between the terminology "donkey" and "ass," though smaller animals are usually called donkeys and larger animals are asses. Both can be used to create a mule, which is a hybrid animal produced by a cross of a male donkey and a female horse.
Wild asses include a number of truly wild (never domesticated) species of Asinus that live in Asia and Africa.
[edit] Taxonomy
- Genus: Equus
- Subgenus: Asinus
- African Wild Ass, Equus africanus[1][2]
- Nubian Wild Ass, Equus africanus africanus
- Somali Wild Ass, Equus africanus somalicus
- Atlas Wild Ass, †Equus africanus atlanticus (extinct)
- Donkey, Equus africanus asinus
- European Ass, †Equus hydruntinus (extinct)
- Onager or Asiatic Ass, Equus onager, Equus hemionus onager
- Mongolian Wild Ass, Equus hemionus
- Indian Wild Ass or Khur, Equus hemionus khur
- Syrian Wild Ass, †Equus hemionus hemippus (extinct)
- Kulan, Equus hemionus kulan
- Turkmenian Kulan, Equus hemionus kulan (synonymous for Kulan)[3]
- Gobi Kulan or Dziggetai, Equus kulan luteus
- Kiang, Equus kiang
- Western Kiang, Equus kiang kiang
- Eastern Kiang, Equus kiang holdereri
- Southern Kiang, Equus kiang polyodon
- Northern Kiang, Equus kiang chu
- †Equus cumminsii Cummin’s Ass
- †Equus calobatus Stilt-legged Onager
- †Equus tau Pygmy Onager
- †Equus lambei Yukon Wild Ass
- African Wild Ass, Equus africanus[1][2]
- Subgenus: Asinus
[edit] References
- ^ Don E. Wilson & DeeAnn M. Reeder, ed. (2005). "Equus asinus". Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?s=y&id=14100004.
- ^ International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (2003). "Usage of 17 specific names based on wild species which are pre-dated by or contemporary with those based on domestic animals (Lepidoptera, Osteichthyes, Mammalia): conserved. Opinion 2027 (Case 3010)." (Summary). Bull.Zool.Nomencl. 60 (1): 81–84. http://www.nhm.ac.uk/hosted_sites/iczn/BZNMar2003opinions.htm.
- ^ http://www.lhnet.org/kulan/
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