African Wild Ass
Equus africanus
Conservation Status
Critically EndangeredMammalia · Perissodactyla · Equidae
About
The African wild ass or African wild donkey, is a wild member of the horse family, Equidae. This species is thought to be the ancestor of the domestic donkey, which is sometimes placed within the same species. They live in the deserts and other arid areas of the Horn of Africa, in Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. It formerly had a wider range north and west into Sudan, Egypt, and Libya. It is Critically Endangered, with about 570 existing in the wild.
Fun Fact
African wild asses are the ancestors of all domestic donkeys, and they can survive on less water than any other equid — going 2-3 days without drinking in the Ethiopian and Eritrean deserts.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Arid grasslands and deserts
Diet
Herbivore
Lifespan
25-30 years
Threats
- Urban Expansion
- Overgrazing
- Invasive Species
- Genetic Bottleneck