African wild ass (Equus)" which diverged ~4.8 (3.2–6.5) million years ago. Different authors consider the African wild ass and the domesticated donkey one or two species; either view is technically legitimate, though the former is phylogenetically more accurate. The species name for the African wild ass is sometimes given as "asinus", from the domestic donkey, whose specific name is older and usually would have priority. But this usage is erroneous since the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature has conserved the name "Equus africanus" in Opinion 2027. This was done to prevent the confusing situation of the phylogenetic ancestor being taxonomically included in its
Proconsul africanus has a talus in which the trochlear surface is highly curved and deeply grooved. The foot of this species possessed a transverse arch. "Proconsul africanus" had a brachial index of 96 which is comparable to the extant genus "Pan". Overall the skeleton of this species can be described as being robust. This species had an average body mass of around . Based upon the dental morphology, it is conjectured that "Proconsul africanus" was a frugivorous species. A study by Aiello in 1981 concluded it was a "below-branch feeder." Based on postcranial pieces, "Proconsul africanus" was likely an arboreal quadruped. Proconsul