The Latin name for Donkey is "Equus Asinus"

Summary

Donkeys are relatives of horses; they are both members of the family "Equus".

Donkeys are peaceful, friendly and tolerant animals. The majority of domestic donkeys that inhabit Great Britain are kept as companions for livestock and due to there docile nature donkeys are also kept as pets. Donkeys are also used for competitive showing.

Characteristics

Domestic donkeys can be brown, white grey, strawberry roan and broken colours. Many donkeys are speckled and striped.

Most solid colour donkeys have a dorsal stripe; this is a stripe darker than the donkeys coat that runs down the spine, many also have shoulder blade stripes, again darker than the donkeys coat coming from the wither area down the shoulders.

Donkey’s hair can be straight, wavy, woolly, curly and wiry. Donkeys have large heads and have long ears. Donkeys have an erect mane and a minimal forelock, if any at all. Donkeys have a tail similar to a cow.

Donkeys can vary in height. Miniature donkeys stand under 9 hands, wild and domestic donkeys between 10 and 14 hands, French Poitou donkeys and American mammoth donkeys can stand up to 17 hands. Wild donkeys can live between 25 to 30 years old, domesticated donkeys between 40 and 50 years.

History and Development

The Donkey developed in the barren environment of the desert, where food and water are in short supply, consequently the donkey has a tough digestive tract that can digest tough vegetation and can absorb and conserve as much water as possible from the little amounts of food and water available to them.

In the wild donkeys live alone, as a result donkeys have developed a very loud call known as "Braying" to communicate with other donkeys that are in the vicinity. A donkeys "Bray" can be heard for up to 3 kilometres. Donkeys have much larger ears than horses, this is a possible result of the donkeys need to pick up the sounds of other donkeys calling in the distance.

Interesting Information

Donkeys can be cross bred with other members of the "Equus" family creating a hybrid. When a male donkey mates with a female horse it produces a mule. When a female donkey mates with a male horse it produces a Hinny. Mules and Hinnys are much sought after animals as they are energetic and strong. For more equstrian information visit Horses for Sale - Horsewizard