Have you ever heard that you’re as stubborn as a mule? Or that something has been a certain way for donkey’s years? So, why are these animals used in these phrases and what’s the difference between the two? Aren’t mules just horses that look a little like donkeys?
Overview
The answer is no. Mules aren’t just horses that look like donkeys. I mean, it’s slightly true. But in the end, it still comes down to much more than that.
Donkeys are donkeys and horses are horses. Mules fit in somewhere in the middle. They’re a product of the two species. Let’s have a look at the proper terminology:
- Mule: The crossbreed that comes from a male donkey (jack) and female horse (mare).
- Hinny: The crossbreed that comes from a male horse (stallion) and female donkey (jenny).
- Molly mule or mare mule: A female mule.
- John mule or horse mule: A male mule.
- Mule colt: A young male mule.
- Mule filly: A young female mule.
Basically, donkeys can’t give birth to mules because when a female donkey is involved, a hinny is born.
Taxonomy
Donkeys and horses belong to the same family and genus, known as Equidae and Equus. All animals in this family, including zebras, have long necks, manes, and a single toe on each foot. Mules aren’t considered a species like their parents, but they’re rather hybrids in the same family and genus.
Furthermore, there’s more than just the common domestic donkey. Other species include the African and Asiatic wild donkeys, which include subspecies like the Somali and Nubian wild donkeys If you ask me, donkey taxonomy is pretty complicated. Horses aren’t as complicated, but there are many, many horse breeds. These include the Arabian, Fresian, and Andalusian horses.
Physical Appearance
Donkeys: They have short, wide heads and thick ears with darkened tips and edges. Their backs are flat, their manes short, and they have very thin limbs with narrow hooves. Donkeys have coarse coats that are mostly gray, but you can come across a black, white, roan, or brown donkey at least once in your life. Then, there’s the cross on their backs from lines that run from their mane to spine and shoulder to shoulder.
Mules: Since they’re technically donkey offspring, there isn’t much difference between the physical appearance of a mule and a donkey. Mules have longer ears, finer hair, no dorsal stripe, and their backs are slightly curved. That’s basically it. Oh, and their coats can also be white, roan, palomino, buckskin, or dun.
Size
Donkeys: They weigh an average of 400-500 lbs. They usually stand 36-48 inches tall from hoof to withers but the biggest donkey, the American Mammoth Jackstock, can be 56 inches.
Mules: They take after their mothers in the size department. Seriously, they’re much bigger than donkeys. They normally weigh 820-1000 lbs. and measure around 48-68 inches at the withers. Yet they’re still smaller than horses.
Behavior
Donkeys: We humans have domesticated animals, so they get along with us pretty well. They actually make great pets and emotional support animals for children, people with disabilities, and the elderly. They’re great at sensing danger and very stoic. In fact, you won’t know if a donkey is overworked until they literally drop dead from exhaustion. Unfortunately, this has earned them that stubborn reputation. Their signature sound is the loud bray, of course.
Mules: They’re also known to be stubborn but it’s just their way of protecting themselves, especially around strangers. They’re better at showing fatigue and pain than donkeys and they’ve got mild tempers. They’re more intelligent than both horses and donkeys and they’re very, very cautious. Oh, and they have a pretty strong sense of smell just like their horse mothers, who can tell a human’s emotions with just their noses. Their sound is a combination of the bray of the donkey and the whinny of a horse.
Habitat
Donkeys: There’s a reason why donkeys normally live in arid and semi-arid environments. They can tolerate extreme temperatures and all kinds of weather, which is why they make great pack animals. Their large ears help cool down their blood and their smaller hooves are perfect for walking over rocky terrains.
Mules: I know I just said donkeys make great pack animals, and it’s definitely still true, but mules are even better at lugging around objects. They’re hardy in all senses of the word and they can withstand the worst of the worst when it comes to tough climates and environments. Their docile personalities and the fact that they’re cheaper to maintain make them slightly better for working.
Diet
Donkeys: They’re not picky but they have some dietary requirements that you might not have known about. They can’t have lots of protein, sugars, starch, and processed foods in general because it can cause them foot disease. Yes, foot disease. Instead, they need foods that are high in fiber. In summer, their diet should consist of a vitamin and mineral supplement in addition to a combination of 75% straw and 25% grass/hay. In winter, 50% straw and 25% hay should be sufficient.
Mules: They need 1.5 to 2% of their body weight in straw and hay daily, with the same fiber, protein, and sugar requirements as donkeys. They can also eat more if their workload is bigger, and fruits and vegetables make good mule treats.
Conservation Status
Donkeys: Both species are very common working animals all across the globe. However, the African wild ass is critically endangered and there may be no more than 200 left in the wild. Don’t worry about the rest of the donkey population because there are still roughly 19 million of them left.
Mules: They’re not endangered at all, with a worldwide population of about 12 million. However, they still face a few threats like hunting and interbreeding.
Other Differences
Chromosomes: Horses have 64 chromosomes and donkeys have 62. Mules are in the middle, with 63 chromosomes.
Fertility: Unfortunately, having 63 chromosomes isn’t great for fertility. Actually, it means that female mules are infertile, and male mules are sterile because chromosomes need to add up. They have a small (almost non-existent) bit of hope attached to a natural pregnancy, but in most cases their only option is embryo transfer.
Intelligence: Donkeys are very intelligent, but mules have higher cognitive intelligence than both their parent species.
Lifespan: Donkeys can live for 30 to 50 years, but the average is 47 to 50. Mules on the other hand only last for 30 to 40 years. However, both species can have a shorter lifespan if they work harder and have little to no access to proper veterinary care.
Jumping: Mules get their ability to jump up several feet from their horse mothers because donkeys can’t jump from a standing position.
Similarities
Socialization: Both mules and donkeys are pretty sociable. They like socializing with other animals and they enjoy having a sense of freedom. Miniature donkeys also make great farmyard companions.
Workforce: Both animals have been used as pack animals for thousands of years. While mules are stronger and tougher, donkeys are also a top choice when it comes to hauling heavy loads across rough terrains.
