The African wild ass, Equus africanus, is a wild member of the horse family that lives in the deserts and other arid areas of the Horn of Africa, in Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. It once ranged north and west into Sudan, Egypt and Libya. It stands about 1.2 metres tall, weighs roughly 250 kilograms, and has a light grey to fawn coat that fades to white on the underside, a dark dorsal stripe and large ears with black margins. It eats grasses, bark and leaves, can live on little water, and is most active in the cooler hours between late afternoon and early morning. It is thought to be the ancestor of the domestic donkey. With about 570 animals in the wild it is critically endangered and the most threatened species of the horse family, hit by capture, interbreeding with domestic animals, hunting and competition with livestock.
Facts
Classification
Population Trend System (Realm) ThreatsAgriculture and Aquaculture 1 ThreatsBiological Resource Use 1 Relationship to People Relationship to PeopleUsed in Traditional Medicine 1 Living or Extinct Conservation Status Body Size Band Comparison
CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
Equus, Taxa Source African wild ass (Wikipedia)
In Biome
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source African wild ass (Wikipedia)Lead, living or extinctQuote, Lead, living or extinct
They live in the deserts and other arid areas of the Horn of Africa, in Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source African wild ass (Wikipedia)Lead, living or extinctQuote, Lead, living or extinct
They live in the deserts and other arid areas of the Horn of Africa, in Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source African wild ass (Wikipedia)Lead, living or extinctQuote, Lead, living or extinct
They live in the deserts and other arid areas of the Horn of Africa, in Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia.
Sources
1. African wild ass (Wikipedia)
Lead
It is critically endangered, with about 570 existing in the wild, making it the most threatened species of the family.
Diet
The African wild asses' diet consists of grasses, bark, and leaves.
Habitat
African wild asses are found in desert or semidesert environments.
Lead, living or extinct
They live in the deserts and other arid areas of the Horn of Africa, in Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia.
Conservation status
has caused a distinct decline in population numbers.
Conservation status, threats
These animals are also hunted for food and for traditional medicine in both Ethiopia and Somalia.
Conservation status, threats (2)
Competition with domestic livestock for grazing, and restricted access to water supplies caused by agricultural developments, pose further threats to the survival of this species.
Conservation status, traditional medicine
These animals are also hunted for food and for traditional medicine in both Ethiopia and Somalia.
Description
is about 1.2 metres (4 ft) tall and weighs approximately 250 kilograms (600 lb).
Behavior, captive lifespan
Lifespan is up to 40 years in captivity.
Child Taxon Of: Equus, Evolution
The genus Equus, which includes all extant equines
View the Source2. Animal Diversity Web: Animal Diversity Web: Equus asinus (Donkey)
Animal Diversity WebConservation StatusQuote, Conservation Status
They are listed in Appendix I on the CITES list.
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