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| | Donkey (Latin: Equus asinus) or African donkey is a kind from family of horses of order perissodactyla. All domesticated donkeys belong to African donkeys, while domestication of Asian donkeys was never possible.
Characteristics
Unlike horse, donkey has hoofs, which are adaptable to stony & uneven surfaces. The hoofs help to move more safely but are not suitable for fast races. Nevertheless, in isolated cases, donkey can accelerate momentum upto 70 km/hr. Donkeys originate from countries with arid climate. The hoofs of donkeys badly endure the moist European climate and quite often form deep running cracks and holes, in which rot clumps hide. Hence, care of hoofs of donkeys is extremely important.
Wool color of donkeys can vary from gray, brown or black and occasionally white breeds are also encountered. Stomach is usually light and the same belongs to front portion of muzzle and area around the eyes. Donkeys have rough mane and tail, ending in a brush. Ears are much longer than the ears of horses.
Depending upon the breed, donkeys can grow upto height from 90 to 160 cm and reach puberty at the age of 2-2.5 years. Basically, pairing is possible all around the year, however occurs, as a rule, in spring. Pregnancy lasts for 12 to 14 months, after which one or two off springs cubs, which at the age between 6 to 9 months become independent.
Peculiarities of Donkeys:
Apart from external differences from horses, several peculiarities also exist, which are not noticeable at first sight. One of them is different number of vertebras. Besides, donkeys have only 31 pairs of chromosomes while 32 pairs in horses. Body temperature of donkeys is little less and it is 37 °C instead of 38°C. Also, donkeys distinguish with longer pregnancy periods.
Cross-breeding
Two sterile (infertile) hybrid forms are possible through interspecific hybridization of donkeys and horses:
* Mule (hybrid of donkey and mare);
* Hinny or ass (hybrid of stallion and jenny)
Wild and feral populations
As in the case of horses, it is necessary to distinguish primordially wild and feral donkeys. Once the wild donkeys existed, divided into several subspecies in northern Africa and Asian near East; however as a result of domestication, the donkeys almost disappeared already during Roman Era. Presently, donkeys are found in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan; small population managed to get accustomed in reserves of Israel. In 1980, total number of wild donkeys was estimated to be one thousand individuals and since then, the number dramatically reduced. In Somalia, wild donkeys, as a result of civil war and anarchy, could have completely disappeared, in Ethiopia and Sudan, same destiny, probably, awaits them in near future. Single country with rather stable population of wild donkeys is Eritrea, where the total number is somewhere about 400.
Unlike them, feral once domesticated donkeys still exist in many regions of the world. Countries, in which the wild donkeys are still present are also natural habitat for feral donkeys and zoologists are of opinion that the both the groups of donkeys may mix up, which may destroy the “genetic purity” of wild donkeys. About 1.5 million feral donkeys wander on steppes of Australia. In the southwest of USA, approximately 6 thousand feral donkeys live, which are called burros and are under protection. One of few European populations of feral donkey is encountered on Cyprus on peninsula Karpasia. They are dark-brown or black in color and are much larger than other donkeys. Often, zebra-type stripes are observed on the legs.
Symbolism
* Donkey is considered as symbol of “asinine” obstinacy and foolishness;
* Ass - Symbol of democratic party of USA;
* Donkey is also associated with piracy on internet (eMule, eDonkey).
Cart or carriage is a most common collective name of various transport vehicles, which are dragged by animals independent of design features, number of wheels , usage area etc.
According to the field of application, carts are divided into passenger and cargo (earlier military carts also existed) and according to number of wheels — two-wheeled (uniaxial) and four-wheel (biaxial).
Load carrying capacity of a cart is up to 750 kg (for uniaxial) and up to two tons (for biaxial).
Modern cart vehicles are quite often equipped with pneumatic tires and sometimes with pneumatic or hydraulic brakes. |
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