Donkey
From CreationWiki, the encyclopedia of creation science
| Donkey |
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| Scientific Classification |
| Binomial |
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Equus asinus |
The donkey or ass, Equus asinus, is a domesticated animal of the horse family, Equidae.The domestic ass was probably derived from the African wild ass.
Smaller than the horse, the domestic donkey and African wild ass stand about 1.25 m (about 4.1 ft) high at the shoulder. They have very long ears, usually a gray coat with white underparts and muzzle, a short, erect mane, and a tail with a tuft of long hair only at the tip.
The ass was domesticated by the Egyptians about 2,000 BC; it is more surefooted than the horse, which makes it better on mountain trails. It also lives longer than the horse—generally from 25 to 50 years. The African wild ass can run up to 50 km/h (up to 30 mph).
The Asian wild ass, which lives in the desert regions of Mongolia, is somewhat larger than the African species and has much smaller ears. The Asian wild ass is usually reddish brown in color, but may also be yellowish or gray. It can reach a speed of up to 70 km/h (up to 43 mph), and is capable of maintaining a pace of about 24 km/h (about 15 mph) for as long as two hours.
