Asinus is a subgenus of Equus that encompasses several subspecies of the Equidae commonly known as wild asses or wild donkeys, 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.
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
- Nubian wild ass, Equus africanus africanus
- Somali wild ass, Equus africanus somaliensis
- Atlas wild ass, â Equus africanus atlanticus (extinct 1st millennium 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
- Persian onager or gur, Equus hemionus onager
- Syrian wild ass or achdari, â 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, â Equus hydruntinus (extinct 1st millennium BC)
Cladogram based on whole nuclear genomes after ÃÂzkan et al. 2024.
References
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