Donkey Donkey The donkey or ass ("Equus africanus asinus") is a domesticated member of the horse family, Equidae. The wild ancestor of the donkey is the African wild ass, "E. africanus". The donkey has been used as a working animal for at least 5000 years. There are more than 40 million donkeys in the world, mostly in underdeveloped countries, where they are used principally as draught or pack animals. Working donkeys are often associated with those living at or below subsistence levels. Small numbers of donkeys are kept for breeding or as pets in developed countries. A male donkey or ass
Equus niobrarensis Equus niobrarensis Equus niobrarensis (or commonly, Niobrara horse) is an extinct species of "Equus", the genus that includes the horse. "E. niobrarensis" may be synonymous with "Equus scotti". It was "stout-legged" and belonged to the "big horses" category as defined by M. C. Winans. The skull of the horse was noted as being broader than Equus caballus. "E. niobrarensis" was native to North America and commonly found in western North America and dates to the late Pleistocene. Fossils of "E. niobrarensis" were discovered at Dry Cave in Wisconsin. Another mention of an "E. niobrarensis" discovery was in Skeleton Cave, Oregon.