The donkey, also called the ass, is a domesticated equine descended from the African wild ass, Equus africanus. It is classified either as the subspecies Equus africanus asinus or as its own species, Equus asinus. Humans first domesticated the donkey in Africa an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 years ago, and it has served mainly as a working animal ever since. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to People Living or Extinct Scientific Name Body Size Band Comparison
NatureServe Rank CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
Equus, Taxa Source Wikipedia: Equus (genus)
Additional Source Wikidata: DonkeyWikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
Sources
1. Donkey (Wikipedia)
article text (diet), EntityId 372567Quote, article text (diet), EntityId 372567
Donkeys are particularly well suited for grazing in dryland environments. In their native arid and semi-arid climates, donkeys spend more than half of each day foraging and feeding, often on poor quality scrub.
2. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (species profiles): Species profiles of Equus africanus
GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (species profiles)system profileQuote, system profile
"habitat": "terrestrial"
3. Wikipedia: Donkey
human-interaction (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)Quote, human-interaction (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
The donkey or ass is a domesticated equine.
4. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ208140, descriptionView the Source 5. NatureServe: Equus asinus (Ass), NatureServe Explorer
NatureServeGlobal conservation status rankQuote, Global conservation status rank
"roundedGRank": "GNA"
6. UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Equus africanus
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 3255Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 3255
"appendix":"I","change_type":"+","effective_at":"1983-07-29","annotation":"Excludes the domesticated form, which is referenced as Equus asinus and is not subject to the provisions of the Convention."
7. Wikipedia: Donkey
8. Animal Diversity Web: Animal Diversity Web: Equus asinus (Donkey)
Animal Diversity WebPhysical Description
The mass is not often reported but Piccione et al. (2008) reported the average mass of 5 adult females as 320 +/- 15 kg.
Lifespan/Longevity
Domesticated donkeys have a maximum lifespan range from 47 to 50 years in captivity.
View the Source Wikidata: Donkey
Wikipedia: Equus (genus)
Child Taxon Of: Equidae, Lead
genus of mammals in the perissodactyl family Equidae, which includes horses, asses, and zebras.
Child Taxon Of: Equus, Lead
genus of mammals in the perissodactyl family Equidae, which includes horses, asses, and zebras.
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