Mules combine donkey and horse parents’ characteristics. Mules are offspring of a male donkey and female horse. Mules are tougher, more resilient working animals. Donkeys can’t reproduce. Mules, zedonks, and hinnies can’t! Mules come from a female horse and male donkey. Zeedonks from zebra and donkey. Hinnies from a female donkey and a male horse. Donkeys and cows can mate but not crossbred. There are few pure donkey breeds in the United States. They are known by their sizes and types. Mule: A donkey stallion mated with a female horse. Where they coexist, horses and donkeys rarely breed in the wild to produce mules. Humans have bred mules for thousands of years. Donkeys like company and form strong bonds. Jennets can become fertile at one year but shouldn’t be bred until 2.5 to 3 years. A male horse and female donkey make a hinny.
Why is a donkey called a jackass?
A male donkey is called a jack or jackass. The “jack” part comes from a tradition of calling men Jack. The “ass” is an even older name for a donkey, from the Latin asinus. Before “donkey”, “ass” was used. The terms “ass” and “donkey” mean the same thing. While “ass” and “donkey” are the same, “jackass” means a male donkey. This combines the male donkey’s nickname “jack” with “ass”. It’s never rude to call a donkey a jackass! At worst, it’s outdated. Originally they were called asses. Donkey was later more common. Jackass became used in the 1700s as donkeys looked like the devil. The “jackass” refers to the backwards-facing tail. You’ve been warned not to call them that. Male donkeys are Jack, Jackass, ass and Burros. Donkeys descend from African wild asses. Mules come from female horses and male donkeys. A young male mule is a mule colt, a young female a mule filly. “Jackass” means a male donkey. Donkeys can reproduce with female ones.
What is special about donkey?
Donkeys are not easily startled. Their keen sense of curiosity contrasts horses. Donkeys are highly self-preserving; forcing a donkey seems contrary to its interest.
The donkey ranges in color from white to black, usually with a dark stripe from mane to tail and on the shoulders. Their very long ears are dark at the base and tip. Donkeys can hear up to 60 miles.
Donkeys have chestnuts on all four legs — the hairless, rough growths set upon the cannon bone. Horses have them too.
The donkey evolved from Dinohippus to Equus simplicidens. The oldest fossil dates ~3.5 million years from Idaho. The genus Equus spread quickly into the Old World.
There are ~41 million donkeys worldwide. China has the most, followed by Pakistan, Ethiopia and Mexico. But China’s population has dropped recently.
Donkeys are intelligent, stoical and pragmatic. They have astonishing memories. Donkeys mask discomfort or anxiety to survive from prey.
A donkey-horse offspring, or mule, is always infertile due to genetic malfunction when two species mate. Donkeys adapted to marginal desert lands uniquely. They vocalize loudly over wide desert spaces to keep in contact.
A donkey is Equus africanus asinus; a mule is a donkey-horse cross. Mules inherit small size, strength, intelligence and sure-footedness from both parents. Mules cannot reproduce; donkeys can.
Miniature donkeys have become popular pets. Donkeys utilize 95% of the scarce food in deserts, so their manure is a poor fertilizer. A donkey’s digestive system efficiently extracts moisture.
Donkeys demand trust from trainers through words and actions. The herd chooses the strongest leader, even if domesticated. The leading donkey will sacrifice itself.
Is a donkey a mule or a horse?
The word mule refers to a hybrid animal from a horse and a donkey. Mules have short legs, large eyes, rounded ears, and are smaller than horses. Their speed is more than a donkey’s but less than a horse’s. Mules withstand heavy loads, are tough and strong. Hence agricultural use. Their tail and back differ from a donkey’s. A mule’s tail resembles a horse’s. Its back slightly curves unlike a donkey’s straight back. Mules seem calmer than donkeys. Donkeys fiercely protect themselves. But with patience donkeys can be handled easily.
First glance shows horses, donkeys and mules appear similar. Specific differences and likenesses exist between the three mammals. Contrast their physical traits, habitats and uses below.
Obvious physical and genetic differences occur. Sorting out a mule and donkey poses a challenge! Donkeys lack the fifth lumbar vertebrae horses and mules have. Hearing them also differs. Donkeys loudly bray. Mules start whinnying then bray.
Mules take beneficial traits from each parent. Mules perform better than impatient, unruly donkeys. Mules stay calm and collected. Hence chosen for steep, mountainous terrain over sporadic horses.
Mules have smaller ears than donkeys. But their ear shape resembles a horse’s. Mules seem donkey-like due to thin limbs and short, thick heads. But mules grow taller than donkeys. Mules vary in appearance. Sometimes mules get identified as donkeys.
The male donkey and female horse pairing produces mules. Mules showcase the best stallion and donkey traits. Ancient times first bred them intentionally.