Equus hemionus
TAXONOMY
Equus hemionus Pallas, 1775, Transbaikalia, Russia. There are six subspecies currently recognized.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Kulan, onager, khulan, khur, dzigettai.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Shoulder height 43–50 in (108–126 cm); weight 441–573 lb (200–260 kg). Is a medium-sized, long-eared, long-legged, hoofed ungulate, with a short coat that is tan to reddish in color with a white belly and chest. They also have distinctive white markings on the posterior portion of the shoulder and the anterior portion of the rump. The mane is erect, and dark in color. The muzzle is white with gray between and around the nostrils and on the lips. There is a stripe down the back that is edged in white.
DISTRIBUTION
The five remaining subspecies are found in restricted ranges in Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and India. They have been reintroduced in Israel and Saudi Arabia.
HABITAT
Live in habitats ranging from semiarid grasslands to extreme salt desert conditions.
BEHAVIOR
Females live in small temporary groups that are typically composed of fewer than five individuals. The only stable groups are composed of a female and her offspring. Males may form small seasonal harem groups and hold seasonal territories near permanent water sources. Some females may stay on one territory during the entire breeding season.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Little is known about the feeding ecology of the Asiatic wild ass. When grass is abundant, they are primarily grazers. During drier seasons or in drier habitats, they will also feed on browse.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Monogamous. Polyestrous, breeding is seasonal, and gestation is 11 months. Most foals are born during a two- to three-month period. Foaling and mating occurs during the rainy season when vegetation is most abundant.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Listed as Vulnerable. Only one subspecies, the khulan, has a substantial population size. Major threats are over-hunting, loss of habitat, and competition for forage and water.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
In some areas where they occur, they are used for meat. In all areas where they occur, they are an important component of the grassland and desert ecosystems.
