# Equus africanus asinus The donkey is a friendly animal known for its long ears and strong body. They are often used to help carry things and can be very gentle with people. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Equus africanus asinus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Donkey_in_Clovelly%252C_North_Devon%252C_England.jpg&width=800) Photo: Adrian Pingstone, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Donkey_in_Clovelly%252C_North_Devon%252C_England.jpg) ## Appearance The Equus africanus asinus is a sturdy, horse-like mammal with noticeably long ears, a tufted tail, and a short, erect mane. Their coat typically ranges from grey to brown, black, or even white, often with a lighter belly and muzzle. Many have a distinct dark stripe down their back and across their shoulders. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Perissodactyla - **Family:** Equidae - **Genus:** Equus ## Interesting facts - A donkey's bray can be heard up to three miles away! - Donkeys love to roll in dust to keep their fur clean! - Donkeys only have a small tuft of hair at the end of their tail! - They are great protectors of other livestock like sheep! ## Special abilities - **Thirsty Survivor:** Donkeys can survive in arid environments by consuming less water and efficiently utilizing tough, sparse vegetation. - **Tough Eater:** Donkeys can efficiently digest coarse, fibrous plants and thorny shrubs, allowing them to thrive on very sparse vegetation. - **Sure-Footed Hauler:** Donkeys have strong legs and robust hooves, making them incredibly stable and capable of carrying heavy loads over uneven terrain. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 90-150 cm - **Weight:** 80-480 kg - **Lifespan:** 25-50 years - **Speed:** 50 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 360-370 days ## Diet & Feeding Donkeys are herbivores that mainly graze on grasses, but they can eat many types of tough plants. - **Primary Foods:** Grasses, Hay, Shrubs, Thistles, Woody plants - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [Human](https://www.snappit.app/explore/human) (*Homo sapiens*) — Donkeys depend on humans for care, food, and shelter as livestock. - **Eaten by:** [Domestic dog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/domestic-dog) (*Canis familiaris*) — Feral donkeys, especially foals, can be prey for packs of domestic dogs. - **Symbiotic with:** [Cattle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cattle) (*Bos taurus*) — Donkeys often graze with cattle, sometimes deterring predators from the herd. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Domesticated](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/domesticated): Domesticated refers to species that have been selectively bred and tamed by humans for specific purposes. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always approach donkeys slowly and gently, and ask an adult for help. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Equus africanus asinus? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Equus africanus asinus? 90-150 cm ### How much does Equus africanus asinus weigh? 80-480 kg ### How long does Equus africanus asinus live? 25-50 years ### How fast can Equus africanus asinus move? 50 km/h ### What does Equus africanus asinus eat? Donkeys are herbivores that mainly graze on grasses, but they can eat many types of tough plants. ### Where is Equus africanus asinus usually found? Grasslands ### How does Equus africanus asinus hunt? Grazing ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Equus africanus asinus: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/equus-africanus-asinus)