Asiatic wild ass
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The Asiatic wild ass ''(Equus hemionus)'' is a member of the [[Equidae]], a family of [[odd-toed ungulate]] [[mammal]]s of [[horse]]s and horse-like animals. There are three basic groups recognized in Equidae—horses, asses, and [[zebra]]s—although all extant equids are in the same genus of ''Equus''. The Asiatic wild ass is one of three or four extant species of asses, which are placed together in the subgenus ''Asinus''. The other species known as asses are the [[African wild ass]] (''E. africanus'', sometimes ''E. asinus''), [[donkey]] or ass ''(E. asinus)'', and [[kiang]] ''(E. kiang)''. The kiang is related to the Asiatic wild ass and in some classifications it is a subspecies of the Asiatic wild ass, listed as ''E. hemionus kiang''. | The Asiatic wild ass ''(Equus hemionus)'' is a member of the [[Equidae]], a family of [[odd-toed ungulate]] [[mammal]]s of [[horse]]s and horse-like animals. There are three basic groups recognized in Equidae—horses, asses, and [[zebra]]s—although all extant equids are in the same genus of ''Equus''. The Asiatic wild ass is one of three or four extant species of asses, which are placed together in the subgenus ''Asinus''. The other species known as asses are the [[African wild ass]] (''E. africanus'', sometimes ''E. asinus''), [[donkey]] or ass ''(E. asinus)'', and [[kiang]] ''(E. kiang)''. The kiang is related to the Asiatic wild ass and in some classifications it is a subspecies of the Asiatic wild ass, listed as ''E. hemionus kiang''. | ||
| − | + | Asiatic wild asses have a shoulder height of about 108 to 126 centimeters (43-50 inches) (Grzimek et al. 2004), a head-body length of about 2.1 meters (6.9 feet), and a weight from 200 to 290 kilograms (441-639 pounds). | |
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| − | + | Asiatic wild asses are a little more horse-like than are donkeys, but are short-legged compared to horses. Their coloring varies depending on the season. They are generally reddish-brown in color during the summer, becoming yellowish-brown in the winter months. They have a black stripe bordered in white that extends down the middle of the back. The erect mane is dark in color. They have a white belly and chest and distinctive white markings on the posterior part of the shoulder and anterior part of the rump (Grzimek et al. 2004). The muzzle is white with the area around the nostrils and the lips grayish (Grzimek et al. 2004). | |
| − | + | They are notoriously untameable. Equids were used in ancient [[Sumer]] to pull wagons around 2600 B.C.E. and are represented as pulling chariots on the [[Standard of Ur]], a Sumarian artifact, at around the same time. While these have been suggested to be Asiatic wild asses, they are now thought to have been domestic African wild asses (Clutton-Brock 1992). | |
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| + | ===Subspecies=== | ||
| + | Five extant and one extinct subspecies are recognized; | ||
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| + | * [[Mongolian wild ass]], ''Equus hemionus hemionus'' | ||
| + | * [[Gobikulan]] or [[dziggetai]], ''Equus hemionus luteus'' | ||
| + | * [[Turkmenian kulan]], ''Equus hemionus kulan'' | ||
| + | * [[Persian onager]], ''Equus hemionus onager'' | ||
| + | * [[Indian wild ass]] or [[Khur]], ''Equus hemionus khur'' | ||
| + | * [[Syrian wild ass]], ''Equus hemionus hemippus'' ([[Extinction|extinct]]) | ||
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| + | ==Distribution and habitat== | ||
Revision as of 15:47, 7 February 2009
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| Equus hemionus Pallas, 1775 |
Asiatic wild ass, or Asian wild ass, is the common name for a wild member of the horse family Equidae, Equus hemionus, characterized by distinctive white markings on the anterior part of the rump and on the posterior part of the shoulder and a stripe down the back that is bordered by white. This odd-toed ungulate is found native in Mongolia, China, India, Iran, and Turkmenistan and has been reintroduced to other nations in its former range as well. It is one of several species of asses in the horse family. The Asiatic wild ass also is known as the onager, although this more specifically refers to one of the subspecies, E. h. onager, of Iran.
Like many other large grazing animals, its range has contracted greatly under the pressures of hunting and habitat loss, and of the six subspecies, one is extinct and two endangered.
Overview and description
The Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus) is a member of the Equidae, a family of odd-toed ungulate mammals of horses and horse-like animals. There are three basic groups recognized in Equidae—horses, asses, and zebras—although all extant equids are in the same genus of Equus. The Asiatic wild ass is one of three or four extant species of asses, which are placed together in the subgenus Asinus. The other species known as asses are the African wild ass (E. africanus, sometimes E. asinus), donkey or ass (E. asinus), and kiang (E. kiang). The kiang is related to the Asiatic wild ass and in some classifications it is a subspecies of the Asiatic wild ass, listed as E. hemionus kiang.
Asiatic wild asses have a shoulder height of about 108 to 126 centimeters (43-50 inches) (Grzimek et al. 2004), a head-body length of about 2.1 meters (6.9 feet), and a weight from 200 to 290 kilograms (441-639 pounds).
Asiatic wild asses are a little more horse-like than are donkeys, but are short-legged compared to horses. Their coloring varies depending on the season. They are generally reddish-brown in color during the summer, becoming yellowish-brown in the winter months. They have a black stripe bordered in white that extends down the middle of the back. The erect mane is dark in color. They have a white belly and chest and distinctive white markings on the posterior part of the shoulder and anterior part of the rump (Grzimek et al. 2004). The muzzle is white with the area around the nostrils and the lips grayish (Grzimek et al. 2004).
They are notoriously untameable. Equids were used in ancient Sumer to pull wagons around 2600 B.C.E. and are represented as pulling chariots on the Standard of Ur, a Sumarian artifact, at around the same time. While these have been suggested to be Asiatic wild asses, they are now thought to have been domestic African wild asses (Clutton-Brock 1992).
Subspecies
Five extant and one extinct subspecies are recognized;
- Mongolian wild ass, Equus hemionus hemionus
- Gobikulan or dziggetai, Equus hemionus luteus
- Turkmenian kulan, Equus hemionus kulan
- Persian onager, Equus hemionus onager
- Indian wild ass or Khur, Equus hemionus khur
- Syrian wild ass, Equus hemionus hemippus (extinct)
Distribution and habitat
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Moehlman, Shah & Feh (2008). Equus hemionus. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 14 Oct 2008. Database entry includes justification for why this species is Endangered
Moehlman, P.D., Shah, N. & Feh, C. 2008. Equus hemionus. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 06 February 2009.
- Duncan, P. (ed.). 1992. Zebras, Asses, and Horses: an Action Plan for the Conservation of Wild Equids. IUCN/SSC Equid Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
- Moehlman, P. & Feh, C. 2002. Equus hemionus. In: IUCN 2004. 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 January 2006.
- Clutton-Brock, Juliet (1992). Horse Power: A History of the Horse and the Donkey in Human Societies. USA: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0674406469.
- Clutton-Brock, J. 1992. Horse Power: A History of the Horse and the Donkey in Human Societies. Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674406469.
- Duncan, P. (ed.). 1992. Zebras, Asses, and Horses: An Action Plan for the Conservation of Wild Equids. IUCN/SSC Equid Specialist Group. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN.
- Grzimek, B., D. G. Kleiman, V. Geist, and M. C. McDade, Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Detroit: Thomson-Gale, 2004. ISBN 0307394913.
- Kawaguchi, E. 1909. Three Years in Tibet. Reprint: 1995, Delhi, India: Book Faith India. ISBN 8173030367.
- Moehlman, P. D. 2004. Equidae. In B. Grzimek, D. G. Kleiman, V. Geist, and M. C. McDade, Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Detroit: Thomson-Gale, 2004. ISBN 0307394913.
- Norbu, T. J., and H. Harrer. 1986. Tibet is My Country. London: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0861710452. (First published in German in 1960.)
- Savage, R. J. G., and M. R. Long. 1986. Mammal Evolution: An Illustrated Guide. New York: Facts on File. ISBN 081601194X.
- Shah, N., A. St. Louis, Z. Huibin, W. Bleisch, J. van Gruissen, and Q. Qureshi. 2008. Equus kiang. In IUCN, 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
- Sharma, B. D., J. Clevers, R. De Graaf, and N. R. Chapagain. 2004. Mapping Equus kiang (Tibetan wild ass) habitat in Surkhang, Upper Mustang, Nepal. Mountain Research and Development 24(2): 149–156.
External links
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