African wild ass

The African wild ass is a critically endangered wild equid native to northeastern Africa’s deserts and the wild ancestor of the domestic donkey.

Equidae: The family of hoofed mammals that includes horses, asses, and zebras. The African wild ass is one of the family’s wild ass species.
Desert adaptation: An inherited or behavioral trait that helps an organism survive in arid environments. The species’ physiology and behavior suit extreme heat and scarce water.
Donkey domestication: The process by which people brought wild asses into human use and breeding. Domesticated donkeys descend from African wild asses through ancient domestication.
Endangered species: A species facing a high risk of extinction across all or a significant part of its range. The African wild ass is assessed as critically endangered.
Eritrea: A country in the Horn of Africa bordering the Red Sea. Eritrea holds part of the African wild ass’s remaining range.
African wild ass subspecies: The geographically distinct populations recognized within the African wild ass species. Subspecies classifications reflect differences among the species’ remaining populations.
Water conservation: Physiological and behavioral processes that reduce water loss or maintain water balance. Conserving water helps the wild ass persist where drinking sources are widely spaced.
African wild ass domestication: The ancient process that produced domestic donkeys from African wild asses. Genetic and archaeological evidence links donkey origins to northeastern Africa.
IUCN Red List: A global assessment system that classifies species by extinction risk. Its assessment records the African wild ass’s exceptionally high extinction risk.
Ethiopia: A country in the Horn of Africa with arid regions inhabited by wild equids. The species’ remaining range includes parts of Ethiopia.

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