The concept of donkey designate the one quadruped animal, which belongs to the equidae family, a situation that makes it the owner of the typical characteristics of this family, such as: teeth with a high crown that allow it to graze and uproot grass to feed itself, disposition of a single finger on each of its legs, which appears covered by a hoof, and a mostly social manifestation that makes it a very docile animal at the time of domestication and at the request of life in community with other peers.
Quadruped mammal, which is part of the equine family, and which has been used to transport people and goods thanks to its docility
This animal has traditionally been associated with work, nobility and strength precisely because it has been used to work the land, to transport people and goods, and as a means of locomotion in the liberation of America.
Also called as equus africanus asinus or ass, it is known that the ascendants of the donkey would have been domesticated by man back in the 5th century BC, almost on a par with their "cousins" the horses, to be used mainly in loading and transporting people.
Physical characteristics
The standard size of donkeys is between 0.9 and 1.4 meters, up to the so-called cross, although there are some species, such as the Andalusian-Cordoba, or the Catalan, which can reach 1.6 and even 1 , 65 meters high.
The coloration is also oscillating in donkeys, because although the donkey is traditionally gray, we can find shades that are close to white, black, and brown.
It should be noted that its color becomes much lighter around its snout and on the back it is normal to see that donkeys have two darker stripes with respect to the base color of the coat and that they make up the figure of a cross.
The manes are not like those of the horses that lie on their necks, but they are much shorter and more curly.
Another difference with respect to horses is that they are much longer-lived and can live up to forty years.
One of its most distinctive physical signs is, without a doubt, big ears that allow you to hear sounds at really great distances.
On the other hand, the fact of having adapted to life on the edge of the desert makes them capable of supporting themselves and without the need to be immersed in a herd.
The traditional way that the donkey has to defend itself is by giving very strong kicks with its hind legs, for example, is that a phrase that precisely alludes to it has become popular and that is widely used in colloquial language: “what can be expected from a donkey more than a kick ”, and that we then use when we want to refer that someone behaved rudely towards us.
Danger of extinction due to the poor care and cruelty with which man treats him
Although the donkey is one of the most powerful and resistant equines when it comes to work on earth, there is a great threat around it and a certain perspective of its danger of extinction as consequences of the cruel exploitation to which it was subjected. the man, who precisely should have protected him by accompanying him on the job ...
In addition to this is added the factor that man has not been too busy promoting their reproduction despite having been one of the animals that helped him, in America, to liberate each region.
It is estimated that there are only about 50 million donkeys and mules left in the world.
In Europe, unlike what has happened in America, it has been given greater protection at the request of sanctuaries and zoos, even specialized farms have been created for them to live, but for example in Mexico and eastern countries, it is continues to use for forced labor and transport of people without the corresponding breaks and care.
Card game
This term also designates a card game that consists of discarding them in each play because the loser is precisely the one who is left with cards in hand; also the one who loses in each hand of this game is called a donkey.
Foolish, ignorant or violent person
And in common parlance, the term donkey is normally used to designate that individual who is characterized by his foolishness and ignorance, for being brutal or very violent. “You are very donkey, you can not ignore that today we celebrate the day of the fatherland.”
Other uses
Also, in the current use of many Spanish-speaking countries, various meanings are attributed to this word, such as: drug, stepladder, ironing board; and phrases such as: donkey: to designate that person who suffers at work because of heavy activities, get off the donkey: when someone recognizes a mistake, and not see two or three on a donkey: to account for someone he has very bad eyesight.
