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Glite Dictionary
Equus africanus

Equus africanus

9.7
A wild African animal like a donkey that is the ancestor of domestic donkeys
  • noun
  • /ˈɛkwəs əˈfrɪkənəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Equus africanus
  • The rare Equus africanus is considered the ancestor of the modern domestic donkey.

Examples

  • Scientists studied the habitat preferences of Equus africanus in northeastern Africa.

  • Conservation efforts aim to protect the remaining wild populations of Equus africanus.

  • The Equus africanus is known for its endurance.

  • Did you know that the Equus africanus is the ancestor of the donkey?

  • Conservation efforts aim to protect the remaining wild populations of Equus africanus.

  • Scientists studied the habitat preferences of Equus africanus in northeastern Africa.

  • The rare Equus africanus is considered the ancestor of the modern domestic donkey.

Synonyms

African wild ass
vsEquus africanus
  • South African
7.2

A wild donkey from dry northeastern Africa that is the ancestor of the domestic donkey

is native across Africa with a broader continental range

Surface Forms

Equus africanus singular
Equus africani singular

Morphology

Equus + africanus

This is a standard Linnaean binomial: 'Equus' names the genus and 'africanus' is a Latin adjective indicating African origin, so the phrase literally reads as the African member of the genus Equus (the wild ass). Scientific names are compositional and follow predictable naming conventions across languages, so a learner who knows the constituents can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Equus africanus comes from Latin words: Equus means 'horse' and africanus means 'from Africa', so the name paints a simple picture of a horse-like animal from Africa. That's why it refers to the wild African ass, the ancestor of the domestic donkey.