Substantial competition occurs between wild asses and domestic herds. The habitat of E. hemionus is often restricted from the optimal to the most arid parts of an area by this competition. (Glenn, 1999)
Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical
The Syrian wild ass (E. hemionus hemippus) went extinct in 1927. The subspecies found in southern Mongolia (E. hemionus hemionus) contains several thousand individuals. All of the other subspecies exist in the hundreds. Conservation status varies from subspecies to subspecies. (Reading et al, 2001)
The largest threat to all of the six subspecies is competition with livestock. The species is desired by nomadic livestock herders for harvesting.
US Federal List: endangered
CITES: appendix i
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: critically endangered
The protected status of the Asian wild ass has been challenged recently by nomadic herders and other farmers in Mongolia. They believe populations in southern Mongolia are becoming too large. The Asian wild ass competes with domestic grazers for water and food resources. (Reading et al., 2001)
Negative Impacts: crop pest
During the first half of the 1900s, Asian wild asses were hunted for meat and for their coats. (Glenn, 1999)
Positive Impacts: food
The Asian wild ass is strictly herbivorous. They tend to eat perennial grasses (noncotyledons) that are of species of Stipa or Agropyron. They also eat herbs and bark. (Glenn, 1999)
Plant Foods: leaves; wood, bark, or stems
Primary Diet: herbivore (Folivore )
In the late Pleistocene, Equus hemionus flourished as far east as West Germany. Currently, at least one subspecies has been found in Russia, China, Iran, and India. However, the major population (over half the total number) of E. hemionus is found in southern Mongolia. (Feh et al, 2001)
Biogeographic Regions: palearctic (Native ); oriental (Native )
E. hemionus prefers flat country. It primarily grazes and rests on highland or lowland desert, semidesert or steppe. They are never found more than 30 km from a permanent oasis or spring. (Glenn, 1999)
Habitat Regions: temperate
Terrestrial Biomes: desert or dune
In captivity, Asian wild asses have lived for 26 years. The oldest found specimen in the wild was 12-14 years old. Most E. hemionus live between four and eight years. A majority of these die between four and six years old, not long after entering sexual maturity. (Feh et al, 2001)
Range lifespan
Status: wild: 14 (high) years.
Range lifespan
Status: captivity: 26 (high) years.
Typical lifespan
Status: wild: 4 to 8 years.
Average lifespan
Status: captivity: 38.8 years.
The color of the Asian wild ass varies depending on distribution and season. As a rule, they are reddish brown in the summer and lighten to yellowish brown in the winter. The underneath part of the animals is white or buff. These asses are characterized by a thick black stripe with white edges that runs down the middle of their backs. They also have small feet and short legs. Individuals may be 1-1.4 m tall at the shoulders. (Glenn, 1999)
Range mass: 200 to 260 kg.
Range length: 1.98 to 2.44 m.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
E. hemionus has a well-developed strategy for anti-predator defense. Stallions from more than one family group cooperate to chase off predators. The frequent occurrence of large groups aids this ability. Wolves are the only known predator of the Asian wild ass other than humans. (Feh et al, 2001)
Known Predators:
Equus hemionus are monogamous. Stallions tend to stay with the mare and foal year-round. (Feh et al, 2001)
Mating System: monogamous
Less than half of the foals born survive through the first year. (Feh et al, 2001)
Breeding season: April to October
Range number of offspring: 1 (high) .
Average number of offspring: 0.5.
Average gestation period: 11-12 months.
Average weaning age: 12-24 months.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 3-4 years.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 3-4 years.
Key Reproductive Features: seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (Internal ); viviparous
Average gestation period: 339 days.
Average number of offspring: 1.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)
Sex: male: 1187 days.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
Sex: female: 1157 days.
Other than predator defense by the male, the mare mostly raises the foal. (Feh et al, 2001)
Parental Investment: male parental care ; female parental care
