Equus africanus asinus
Conservation status
Domesticated
Scientific classification
Unrecognized taxon (fix):	Equidae
Genus:	Equus
Species:	E. africanus
Subspecies:	E. a. asinus
Trinomial name
Equus africanus asinus Linnaeus, 1758

Donkey, three weeks old

A donkey or ass (Equus africanus asinus) is a mammal of the Equidae family. The wild ancestor of the donkey is the African wild ass, E. africanus. The donkey has been used as a working animal for at least 5000 years. There are a number of other wild asses in different parts of the world.

The name 'donkey' is correct for the domesticated animal. It is the tame animal that people use for transportation and other work, such as pulling a carriage or plowing a field.

Donkeys can have hybrid children with a common horse. The child of a female horse and a male donkey is called a mule. The child of a female donkey and a male horse is called a hinny. Mules are more common, and have been used for transportation. Most cannot reproduce.