Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
2472872 Der Zoologische Garten 2014 9 Pages PDF
Abstract

This paper reviews the history of African wild asses in the Giardino Zoologico of Rome, highlighting their relevance to taxonomy of Equus africanus (von Heuglin & Fitzinger, 1866). Specifically, it is demonstrated that the so-called Munich/Catskill stock of African wild ass originated from three animals imported in Rome from Eritrean Danakil in August 1932. Available evidence suggests that contrary to some recent statements, these ‘wild’ asses were not related to the Nubian wild ass and are better considered as the result of some intergradations between Somali wild asses and local Danakil donkeys.

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Life Sciences Agricultural and Biological Sciences Animal Science and Zoology
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