The Somali Wild Ass

• The Somali wild ass, Equus asinus somalicus (sometimes the species is designated as africanus), is among seven living species of Equus. These include three species of asses, three species of zebras, and the horse, both domestic horses and one wild horse, the Przewalski's horse from Central Asia.
• It is the only living ass in the wild today in the desert, semi-arid, and arid areas of Ethiopia and Somalia just above the tip of the "horn" of Africa.
• Their predominant diet is grass but they will also graze on other desert plants. Although they can derive some moisture from plants, they must have water every two or three days.
• Some males are solitary and others live in all-male or mixed herds of up to 50 animals. The territory of a mature male covers about 9 sq. mi. and is marked with dung heaps. Other subordinate males are tolerated in the territory as long as they keep their distance from the females.
• They have been clocked at speeds up to 30 mph.
• They are on the critically endangered species list; probably fewer than 1,000 remain in the wild. Their main predators and competitors are humans.

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