Asinus

"Wild Asses" redirects here. For other uses, see Wild ass.

Asinus is a subgenus of Equus that encompasses several subspecies of the Equidae commonly known as wild asses, characterized by long ears, a lean, straight-backed build, lack of a true withers, a coarse mane and tail, and a reputation for considerable toughness and endurance.

Asinus
Turkmenian kulan (Equus hemionus kulan)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Perissodactyla
Family:	Equidae
Genus:	Equus
Subgenus:	Asinus Gray, 1824
Type species
Equus hemionus
Species
Equus africanus Equus asinus Equus hemionus Equus kiang †Equus hydruntinus
Range of the three living wild ass species

The common donkey is the best-known domesticated representative of the subgenus, with both domesticated and feral varieties. Among the wild ass species, several never-domesticated species live in Asia and Africa, with the extinct European wild ass species formerly inhabiting Europe.

Taxonomy

• Genus: Equus
  • Subgenus: Asinus
    • African wild ass, Equus africanus^[1][2]
      • Nubian wild ass, Equus africanus africanus
      • Somali wild ass, Equus africanus somaliensis
      • Atlas wild ass, †Equus africanus atlanticus (extinct 1st millienium AD)
      • Donkey, Equus africanus asinus
    • Onager or Asiatic wild ass, Equus hemionus
      • Mongolian wild ass or khulan, Equus hemionus hemionus
      • Indian wild ass or khur, Equus hemionus khur
      • Turkmenian kulan, Equus hemionus kulan^[3]
      • Persian onager or gur, Equus hemionus onager
      • Syrian wild ass or achdari, †Equus hemionus hemippus (extinct 1927)
    • Kiang or Tibetan wild ass, Equus kiang
      • Western kiang, Equus kiang kiang
      • Eastern kiang, Equus kiang holdereri
      • Southern kiang, Equus kiang polyodon
      • Northern kiang, Equus kiang chu
    • Hydruntine or European wild ass, †Equus hydruntinus (extinct 1st millennium BC)

References

1. 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.
2. 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–kksiss84.
3. . Archived from the original on 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2011-12-10.

External links

• "Ass" . New International Encyclopedia. 1905.