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
Africanus Fabius Maximus Africanus' earliest post was as a military tribune in Spain, though this is not certain. His only two certain civilian posts were as ordinary consul in 10 BCE (with Iullus Antonius), and as proconsul of Africa in 6/5 BCE. He was admitted to the priesthood of the "septemviri epulonum" at some point after 25 BCE. It was during his tenure as proconsul of Africa that Africanus struck some coins that bore his own image. Although no wife is attested for Africanus, it is possible that he had a daughter named Fabia Numantina. Alternatively, she may have been the daughter of