# The difference between a mule and a donkey???? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 31, 2003, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-a-mule-and-a-donkey/222012 "2003-12-31T21:46:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-a-mule-and-a-donkey/222012/21 "2004-01-03T00:02:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by John Mace \* > Not sure, but when lions and tigers (oh my!) are mated, it does depend. I forget which it is, but if the father is of one species, the offspring is often much, much bigger than when he’s of the other species. Ligers (lion father, tiger mother) are prone to gigantism and can get into the 1000-1200lb range, making them the biggest cats on Earth. [Reference, including a picture a friggin _huge_ animal.](http://www.lairweb.org.nz/tiger/ligers.html) In contrast, Tigons (tiger father, lion mother) are much harder to breed and more prone to health problems. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-a-mule-and-a-donkey/222012/22 "2004-01-03T00:27:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bryan Ekers \* > \*\*Ligers (lion father, tiger mother) are prone to gigantism and can get into the 1000-1200lb range, making them the biggest cats on Earth. [Reference, including a picture a friggin _huge_ animal.](http://www.lairweb.org.nz/tiger/ligers.html) > > In contrast, Tigons (tiger father, lion mother) are much harder to breed and more prone to health problems. \*\* There was a TDC program not long ago about Oliver, the alleged “humanzee”. The part about Oliver was crap, but there was footage of a liger shown that just blew me away. It was bigger than the biggest tiger you’ll ever see. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-a-mule-and-a-donkey/222012/23 "2004-01-04T00:54:53Z")
All righty then, can someone who understands the taxonomy of horses, mules, asses, burros, donkeys and all their male, female, and juvenile (and castrati) appellations and cross breed forms (and which are sterile) please draw a diagram for me? Or at least an outline. I’m so confused. Thanks in advance. Peace. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-a-mule-and-a-donkey/222012/24 "2004-01-04T02:11:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by moriah \* > \*\*All righty then, can someone who understands the taxonomy of horses, mules, asses, burros, donkeys and all their male, female, and juvenile (and castrati) appellations and cross breed forms (and which are sterile) please draw a diagram for me? Or at least an outline. I’m so confused. Thanks in advance. > > Peace. \*\* Let’s try. Note that I don’t think anybody has actually brought up castrated animals to this point - let’s ignore it for now. For the bare answer to the OP, read **Q.E.D** ’s post and stop. **Polycarp** followed with a good answer about the scientific taxonomy of Equus, to within the degree that the taxonomists themselves agree about it. Summary: Equus caballus - horse Equus asinis - ass, called a donkey when domesticated. “burro” is also a variety of Equus Asinis. There is a lot of size difference among the varieties of Equus asinis, particularly among the domestic donkeys, which we have selectively bred. A large variety called the “mammoth” is usually used for the breeding of draft mules (see below). Note that most equine species can cross breed, producing (usually) sterile hybrids (“zorse” / “zonkey” crossbreeds are possible, and usually sterile. Also, not terribly useful, as they turn out to be as nasty as their zebra parents). Animal husbandry leaves us with more specific terminology for the economically useful horse and donkey: stallion - male horse mare - female horse jack - male donkey (or ass) jennet or jenny - female donkey (or ass) mule, as used by a breeder - offspring of a male donkey and a female horse, usually sterile. hinny - offspring of a female donkey and a male horse, also usually sterile. — that just reiterates what’s already been said. Further pedantry on the subject: BTW, mules and hinnies may be of either gender, and are fully capable of performing sexually. They’re just sterile, in most cases. In fact, male mules are usually castrated because they tend to be rather randy beasts otherwise. Female mules have estrus cycles, and can carry an implanted fetus. (More terms - a female mule is called a “molly”, a male mule a “john”) Mules were of economic importance as draft animals because they happen to pick up the right features from their parents - horses are stronger than donkeys, but also generally more prone to sickness or injury. The mule, happily, turns out to be strong like a horse and tough like a donkey. ---
**Author:** ![Extraneous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/0ea827/32.png) [@Extraneous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Extraneous)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-a-mule-and-a-donkey/222012/25 "2004-01-04T02:43:50Z")
OK, while we’re on horses - Is a zebra a black critter with white stripes, or a white critter with black stripes? ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-a-mule-and-a-donkey/222012/26 "2004-01-04T03:23:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Extraneous \* > \*\*OK, while we’re on horses - > > Is a zebra a black critter with white stripes, or a white critter with black stripes? \*\* Black with white stripes (and with a white belly and lower legs). IIRC this has been confirmed by examination of fetal zebras at different stages in development, which shows the coat color before and after the stripes develop. ---
**Author:** ![Freelans\_a](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@Freelans\_a](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freelans_a)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-a-mule-and-a-donkey/222012/27 "2004-01-04T11:52:06Z")
Okay, while we’re at it does someone have an answer to this one? What’s the difference between E-donkey and E-mule? Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-a-mule-and-a-donkey/222012/28 "2004-01-04T14:31:48Z")
So what kind of donkey is Kong? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-difference-between-a-mule-and-a-donkey/222012.md?page=1)