Donkey, donkey and donkey are different regional names given to exactly the same animal: the Equus asinus, a kind of “relative” of the horse. The donkey is famous for its great resistance and can be found practically all over the planet, except in colder regions. Since the beginning of civilizations, it has been used as a beast of burden, saddle and traction, being very useful for heavy work in the field. On average, it is 1.30 meters tall and weighs up to 400 kilograms. Mule and donkey, in turn, are another animal, formed from the cross between a donkey and a mare. When the offspring of that mating is a female, she is called a mule; when a male is born, he is popularly called a donkey. Regardless of gender, this animal is physically more similar to its mother, that is, a mare, but manages to inherit strength and endurance from the donkey. Thanks to its formidable balance, the mule (or donkey) can navigate steep mountain paths, making it very useful as a pack animal. “Donkeys and mules have a strong ‘personality’ as their main characteristic. They are animals that require a lot of perseverance and specific work to be tamed”, says veterinarian Alexandre Gobesso, from the University of São Paulo (USP).
family dating Offspring from crosses between Equus caballus and Equus asinus are always infertile
Equus caballus horse (male) or mare (female)
Equus asinus ass (male) or ass (female)*
Donkey + mare = donkey (male) or mule (female)
Horse + donkey = bardot (male or female)
*Asno and donkey are other names for the donkey
1. Ears
One of the main differences between the mule/donkey and the donkey is the size of the ears. Donkeys are much bigger
2. Size
Mules and donkeys are taller than donkeys. The size depends on the size of the mare that originated them, but is usually more than 1.50 meters
3. Coat
The donkey is hairier and has several forms of fur – grayish, white and black. The mule/donkey’s fur is short like a horse’s