Ass

The wild ass was distributed widely in North Africa and Asia. In Asia, it was domesticated as a draft animal c 3000 BC. The modern donkey derives from an animal of Ethiopia and the Sudan, which the Egyptians imported from the 2nd millennium on. The earliest date of these for the African ass is an Egyptian tomb relief of 1650 BC. Remaining populations can be found in Iran (called the onager), northwest India (called the ghorkar), and Mongolia (called the kiang). Asiatic wild asses as a group may also be called onagers, kemiones, or half-asses. Artistic representation of the domestication of asses has been found, but little osteological evidence. The ass arrived in Europe during medieval times. The domestic ass, or donkey, may be hybridized with the horse: a male ass crossed with a female horse produces a mule, and a female ass crossed with a male horse produces a hinny and both hybrids are sterile.

The wild ass was distributed widely in North Africa and Asia. Three races of the African wild ass, Equus asinus, existed in northwest Africa, the Nile basin and Ethiopia, and Somaliland. All but the Somali race are now more or less extinct. The Asiatic wild ass, Equus hemionus, still survives, but its range is restricted. It used to occupy Syria, Arabia and Mesopotamia. Remaining populations can be found in Iran (where it is called the onager), northwest India (where it is called the ghorkar) and Transcaspia and Mongolia (where it is known as the kiang). Asiatic wild asses as a group may also be called onagers (in a wider sense), kemiones, or half-asses. There is very little osteological evidence for domesticated asses on archaeological sites, but a number of artistic representations have been found. The earliest (securely dated) of these for the African ass is an Egyptian tomb relief of 1650 BC. After this date, domestic asses gradually appear in the Levant, Mesopotamia and finally arrive in Europe during medieval times. The domestic ass, or donkey, may be hybridized with the horse: a male ass crossed with a female horse produces a mule, and a female ass crossed with a male horse produces a hinny (rather rare); both hybrids are sterile.