Asinus is a subgenus of Equus that encompasses several subspecies of the Equidae commonly known as wild asses or wild donkeys, characterized by long ears, a lean, straight-backed build, lack of a true withers, a coarse mane and tail, and a reputation for considerable toughness and endurance.
The common donkey is the best-known domesticated representative of the subgenus, with both domesticated and feral varieties. Among the wild ass species, several never-domesticated species live in Asia and Africa, with the extinct European wild ass species formerly inhabiting Europe.
Taxonomy Genus: Equus Subgenus: Asinus African wild ass, Equus africanus Nubian wild ass, Equus africanus africanus Somali wild ass, Equus africanus somaliensis Atlas wild ass, †Equus africanus atlanticus (extinct 1st millennium AD) Donkey, Equus africanus asinus Onager or Asiatic wild ass, Equus hemionus Mongolian wild ass or khulan, Equus hemionus hemionus Indian wild ass or khur, Equus hemionus khur Turkmenian kulan, Equus hemionus kulan Persian onager or gur, Equus hemionus onager Syrian wild ass or achdari, †Equus hemionus hemippus (extinct 1927) Kiang or Tibetan wild ass, Equus kiang Western kiang, Equus kiang kiang Eastern kiang, Equus kiang holdereri Southern kiang, Equus kiang polyodon Northern kiang, Equus kiang chu Hydruntine or European wild ass, †Equus hydruntinus (extinct 1st millennium BC) Cladogram based on whole nuclear genomes after Özkan et al. 2024.
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