Australian Biological Resources Study

Australian Faunal Directory

Museums

Regional Maps

Family EQUIDAE


Compiler and date details

31 December 1998 - J.A. Mahoney & D.W. Walton (1988); updated by Barry J. Richardson (1999), Centre for Biostructural and Biomolecular Research, University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury

Introduction

The family Equidae, order Perissodactyla, includes the horses, zebras and asses, all placed in a single genus. None is native to Australia, though two species are now present, Equus caballus and Equus asinus. The dental formula is 3/3, 0-1/0-1, 3-4/3, 3/3 = 36-42. Horns are not found on animals of either sex. A post-orbital bar is present. There is one digit on each foot.

All species are grazing herbivores and are found in small herds. The modern species were found originally in the Ethiopian and Palaearctic regions, though domestic and feral horses and asses are now found in many parts of the world.

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
14-Dec-2010 14-Dec-2010 MODIFIED
12-Feb-2010 (import)