Hybrids | The Mules

What is an Onager?

Onagers are a mammal belonging to the Equus genus, and the Asinus subgenus. They are known by the scientific name Equus Hemionus, and are found in Syria, Iran, Pakistan, India, Israel, and Tibet. They belong to the horse family and are sometimes called the Asian Wild Ass. The Onager is a grazing animal and its range has sharply declined through the direct and indirect actions of homosapien sapiens (us), with less wildlife and less forage to naturally find. There are size subspecies of Onager, and one is now extinct. The Onager is larger than the donkey and are slightly more horse-like in appearance. They have a history of domestication for kings and chariot pulling in Sumer dating back to 2600 BC, and 2000 BC respectively. The subspecies of the Onager that are still living are the Mongolian Wild Ass, the Gobi Kulan (or Dziggetai), the Turkmenian Kulan, the Persian Onager, and the Indian Wild Ass (or Khur). The extinct species is the Syrian Wild Ass, the very last one died in 1928 in a zoo.

The Mongolian subspecies of the Onager has been recently listed as Vulnerable since the 1990s saw a massive decline in their numbers. The population is failing because of direct human actions, like poaching and competition from grazing livestock, since 1953 the Mongolian Wild Ass has been fully protected in Mongolia, and it is listed in the CITES in appendix I and II. Even with full protection poaching for meat is on the rise as it is a cheap alternative to domesticated animal meat. One of the other Onagers is the Indian Wild Ass, or khur, and it is vanishing in parts of India. At one point the population may have dipped below one thousand, but recent conservation efforts have helped bring them back from being close to the brink.

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Hinny Definition

A hinny is the opposite of a mule, where the mother (dam) is a donkey and the father (sire) is a horse. It takes a long times and a lot of patience to even get one due to the donkey’s stubbornness to mate with a horse. Many times they are created through artificial impregnation or other techniques. Hinnies are similar to mules in that they are pretty much healthier and requires less food due to the donkey’s adapted body and efficency in food consumption. Hinnies are also smarter than horses and more cooperative than donkeys, much like mules. However, hinnies are on average slightly smaller than mules and can only be as large as the dam (mother) which is a donkey, whereas a mule can be as big as a horse in some cases (since the mother of a mule is a horse). They heads of hinnies often resemble the heads of horses more than mules do, and they have shorter ears. They come in horse colors, and the sire often gives his coat to the hinny, thus making them more varied in coloration and variance.

Hinnies are difficult to produce because of the chromosomal difference from the mother is 62 and the father is 64 – which makes it more difficult to produce. It is easier with a mule because the male father has 62 while the mother has 64, and it is usually more viable. There have been no recorded cases of any fertile male hinnies, however there has been one single documented case of a fertile female hinny. Another reason that hinnies are so rare to find and conversely hard to produce is that the stallion male (the sire) is picky, and will often times not wish to mate with a donkey, and the donkey mare (the dam) is just as picky, if not more so, compounding the problem.

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What is a Zebrony?

Zebroid is a term given to any animal that is a cross between a zebra and any other Equidae (animals belonging to a family of horse sharing similar characteristics, traits and behavior).

Zebrony belongs to this family. It is the result of the copulation between a zebra and a pony. Another term given to it is zony. When a male zebra (stallion) and a female pony (mare) mate, their offspring is referred to as a zony. People also call it by different names such as ponibra and zeny. Obviously the names are derived from the names of their parents combined together (zebra/pony).

The physical attributes of a zebrony follow the characteristics like that of a pony only with distinguishable stripes like that of a zebra. However, the stripping is concentrated mostly on the rear and leg part depending on the zebra specie. Some zebronies may have the stripping scattered on different parts of the body particularly.

Typically, the height of a zebrony will not reach 5 feet just like the common pony, which has proportionately short legs but are considerable strong. The mane and tail are significantly thick and the neck is wide. Naturally, these characteristics will depend on the pony breed. Its color, too, will vary depending on breed type.

Zebronies are among the hybrids that are most commonly preferred for practical uses. This is because they are, like many horse breeds, clever and very trainable. However, they are considered to be, at times, stubborn, aloof, temperamental and can be difficult to manipulate. These characteristics are associated to their zebroid quality.

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What is a Zebrule?

Cross breeding among animals is not uncommon. Like mules. Mule is the name given to animals of a donkey and a horse combination; a cross breed of a female horse (mare) and a male donkey (ass), to be specific. It is important to take note the gender of the animals for it determines what the offspring will turn out to be. On the other hand, when a female donkey and a male horse copulate, the offspring will not anymore be called a mule but a hinny. They are modernly referred to as hybrids.

One type of mule or hybrid that has not yet gained so much popularity, and is in fact still unheard of, is the zebrule. The name could have been a combination of the names zebra and mule. However, the animal of this breed is more commonly known or called zenkey (zebra plus donkey).

Zebrule is the offspring of a male zebra (a stallion) and a female donkey (a jenny or jennet). Zebrules have not grown in number yet. The small percentage of this breed can be found in South Africa. One zebrule was reported to have been born in Barbados, Venezuela, christened Alex. Typically, zebrules can be spotted in areas where donkeys and zebras live at a close distance to each other, which proved to be true, since Alex’s inception was because of a zebra and a donkey’s sharing of one common area for a span of time.

Zebrules are rare. The reason why their population has not increased is the fact that zebrules are (mostly) barren. This is ascribable to their discordant chromosome count, which is only 63. The chromosome result is due to the incompatibility of chromosome counts of the parent stallion and jenny. A zebra has 44 chromosomes while a donkey has 62.

Zebrule is also known by the names zonkey, zeedonk, zenkey and zebronkey. Its physical characteristics and traits are equally taken after both parents. Commonly, the stripes of a zebrule can only be seen on the lower part of the body, typically on the hind part and on the legs. Some zebrules, however, have stripping on their belly part. Some, with almost the entire body covered with stripes.

The prominence of its stripes depends on the zebrule’s color. Naturally, when a zebrule has a dark color, the striping will not profoundly show compared with a light brown colored zebrule. A zebrule’s color takes the color or the regnant color gene of the female donkey or jenny.

Zebrules move faster than a common mule or donkey. They are prey animals, too, like the animals of their same specie. However, zebrules are quick to defend themselves when a predator corners them. Their senses are much stronger and they will scurry for safety when they recognize peril. Just like mules and donkeys, zebrules are clever and can be easily trained.

Zebras, horses and donkeys are all part of the Equidae family (animals belonging to the family of horses). Because of this, these three animals can inter-breed, hence the probability for creation of more breeds and new strange names such as zebrule.

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What is Zorse?

In the 19th century of South Africa zorses are initially procreated. It is a government- sponsored program, which aimed zorses to be the beast of gist, together with zonkeys and zebras. On the other hand, horses are commonly used in other countries. South African governments use of zorse were immediately ended when vehicles were innovated in early 1900’s.

A zorse is an animal that is muscular and heavily built. Driven from horse and zebras and base on which species of zebra it is bred, its hybrid can be like a pony or a horse. But it is more likely two to three folds stiffer than a horse. But its animalism, features and temperament are more comparable to zebras. Its mane does not grow long, it stands-up same as a zebra or, more often, drops down same as the horse. With its average height of 13 to 16 hands, zorse is well proportioned. Its resemblance in horse includes its color. May it be black or darker base for its bodily stripes. Zorse stripes are not equally formed than of the zebras. More of its hybrid output is single or double colored face with white legs. With its well-toned muscles, its strength and straight legs, zorse looks brave and hefty.Zorse are also trained like other animals. They can excel in jumping and trailing. Their trainer can be their best friend. They are good followers and are intelligent. Compared to horses, zorse attitude are way better in terms of personality and braveness.

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What is an Onager?

Hinny Definition

What is a Zebrony?

What is a Zebrule?

What is Zorse?

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