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
animal. It is the tame animal that people use for
transportation
and other
work
, such as
pulling
a
carriage
or
plowing
a
field
.
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.
Donkeys,
zebras
and
mules
all look different from the common
horses
. One difference is the
ears
.
[2]
Donkey ears are much longer than horse ears. 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 very raspy, and it makes a loud "Ee - Aww" noise, known as braying (hence Eeyore in the
Winnie-the-Pooh
books).
Although many people think donkeys are gray, many are brown. Some are black, both red and gray, creamy white, or a unique
spotted
pattern.
[2]
Some 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.
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). Some, like the rare French donkey, have huge heads and ears, and very thick, shaggy curled black coat.
[2]
Working donkeys in the poorest countries have a
life expectancy
of 12 to 15 years.
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]