This article is about the horse species. For the siege weapon, see onager.
The Onager (Equus hemionus) is a large mammal belonging to the horse family and native to the deserts of Syria, Iran, India, and Tibet. It is sometimes known as the Half Ass or the Asiatic Ass.
Like many other large grazing animals, its range has contracted greatly under the pressures of hunting and habitat loss, and of the four subspecies, one is extinct and two endangered.
Onagers are a little larger than Donkeys at about 290 kg and 2.1 metres (head-body length), and are a little more horse-like. Some authorities regard the type of animal found in Tibet as a separate species, Equus kiang.
Onagers were used in ancient Sumer to pull chariots, circa 2600 BC.
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Last updated: 10-10-2005 04:47:22
