Asinus

Asinus, commonly known as asses, is a subgenus of Equus (single-toed (hooved) grazing animal) that encompasses several species of Equidae characterized by long ears, a lean, straight-backed build, lack of a true withers, a coarse mane and tail, and a reputation for considerable toughness and endurance.

The common donkey or "ass" is the best-known representative of the subgenus, with both domesticated and feral varieties, ranging in size from the small burro to the horse-sized "Mammoth Jack" American donkey, the French Poitou donkey and other donkey breeds. There is not a formal cutoff between the terminology "donkey", "burro" and "ass", Miniature Mediterranean Donkeys (under 9 hands) are "donkeys", small and standard sized donkeys are called "burros" or "donkeys" and large donkeys (over 13.2 hands) are "donkeys", "Jackass" or "Ass". Males are called a "jack", gelding males are "john", females are "jennies" or "jennets".

A mule, is a hybrid animal produced by a jack donkey mated with a mare horse. A hinny is a the offspring of a stallion horse mated with a jenny donkey.

Wild asses include a number of truly wild (never domesticated) species of Asinus that live in Asia and Africa.