Below are some of the mane differences you can spot between these four animals. You'll neigh find a better explanation. All you need to know is that animals like horses, donkeys and mules are entirely separate species. However, they have all evolved from the same family called equidae. These species all belong to a sub-family of animals called equus. Here are some clues to how you can tell the difference between horses, donkeys, mules and ponies! Spotting the difference between horses, ponies, donkeys and mules can be a little tricky, but there are some things you can look out for to hep you tell the animals apart.
To enjoy Newsround at its best you will need to have JavaScript turned on. Pony painting parties: The summer's big trend that's causing controversy. Molly the dog and other animal hitchhikers. What's the difference between wasps, bees and hornets? These comments are now closed. Should MPs be allowed to do another job? Donkeys originate from desert areas of the earth. In the desert environment a donkey is able to hear the call of another donkey 60 miles away, they have far larger ears than horses.
Their large ears also help keep them cool. Their digestive system can break down inedible vegetation and extract moisture from food more efficiently. A herd will choose the strongest donkey to be their leader, even if domesticated. In the wild the lead donkey would stay to ward off an attack by a wolf or other predators in order to allow the rest of the herd to escape to safety. Donkeys in a herd will groom each other in the same way as monkeys and chimps do.
The wealth of the Egyptians was due to the precious metals carried from Africa by donkeys. In Greece donkeys were used for working on the narrow paths between vines and their work in vineyards spread as far as Spain. The donkey was associated with the Syrian God of Wine, Dionysius.
The Roman Army moved donkeys into Northern Europe using them in agriculture, vineyards and as pack animals. Donkeys are often a lifeline to families in many regions of the world. They help with water and wood fuel collection, land cultivation and transportation of produce to market.
Donkeys are used as guard animals for cattle, sheep and goats since they have a natural aversion to canines and will keep them away from a flock. It is unique among the equids because it requires an ability that donkeys have but horses and zebras lack: vocalizing while both inhaling and exhaling. The hee occurs during air intake, and the haw comes during air outflow. Despite this sound being specific to donkeys, there is still some variation. The duration and frequency of a bray, for instance, is unique to each individual animal.
The Poitou donkey was developed in the French Poitou region in the 18th century, and it is a standout among breeds created by humans. Used primarily to breed mules across Europe, it is known for its distinctive long coat that hangs in thick, matted cords called cadenettes , similar to dreadlocks.
The longer and more matted the coat, the more prized the donkey. But as the use of donkeys and mules declined in the modern era, so too did the breeding of Poitou donkeys. By , there were only 44 individuals left. Since then, numbers have been rising thanks to private breeders and conservation efforts.
There are two species of wild ass: the African wild ass and the Asiatic wild ass. However, only the former is the ancestor to which today's domesticated donkeys can be traced. Unfortunately, despite being the start of domesticated donkeys 5, years ago, the African wild ass is in danger.
According to the IUCN, the African wild ass is critically endangered with between just 23 and adults left in the wild as of The future for the African wild ass may seem bleak, but there are people working to protect them.
Meanwhile, there is also legislation in place to protect these donkey ancestors, including full legal protections in Eritrea and Ethiopia and the establishment of protective nature reserves. Donkeys are key to a number of the world's hybrid creatures ; because they are closely related to horses and zebras, donkeys can produce offspring with both.
In fact, creating hybrids was standard practice for centuries because mules were popular working animals. The long history of creating donkey hybrids has led to an abundance of names for the mixed-species animals.
Here are just a few:. Mules are almost always sterile. But despite the slim odds of foal, folks still came up with names for them:. Because donkeys can mate with zebras, there are creative names for those offspring too:. Donkeys are social animals that don't like to be alone. They evolved as herd animals and form deep, lifelong bonds with other donkeys or animals with whom they share a pasture.
Close bonds between two donkeys are called pair bonds, and there is also research to prove their legitimacy.
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