Syrian wild ass

Syrian wild ass

Hemippe, Achdari, Mesopotamian, Syrian onager

SUBSPECIES OF

Kingdom
Phylum
Subphylum
Class
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Equus hemionus hemippus

The Syrian wild ass (Equus hemionus hemippus ), less commonly known as a hemippe, an achdari, or a Mesopotamian or Syrian onager, is an extinct subspecies of onager native to the Arabian peninsula and surrounding areas. It ranged across present-day Iraq, Palestine, Israel, Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey.

Appearance

The Syrian wild ass, one metre high at its shoulder, was the smallest equine, and it could not be domesticated. Its coloring changed with the seasons — a tawny olive coat for the summer months, and pale sandy yellow for the winter. It was known, like other onagers, to be untameable, and was compared to a thoroughbred horse for its beauty and strength.

Distribution

Geography

The Syrian wild ass lived in deserts, semi-deserts, arid grasslands, and mountain steppes. Native to West Asia, they were found in Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Turkey, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq.

Diet and Nutrition

The Syrian wild ass was a grazer. It fed on grass, herbs, leaves, shrubs, and tree branches.

References

1. Syrian wild ass Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_wild_ass
2. Syrian wild ass on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/7962/3144566

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