Kiang
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The Kiang (Equus kiang) is a large mammal belonging to the horse family. They are native to the Tibetan Plateau, where they inhabit montane and alpine grasslands from 4000 to 7000 meters elevation. They are the largest of the wild asses, with an average shoulder height of 140 cm. The Kiang is related to the Onager or Asiatic Wild Ass (E. hemionus), and some authorities classify it as a subspecies of Onager, E. hemionus kiang, though recent molecular studies indicate that it is a distinct species.
The kiang has a large head, with a blunt muzzle and a convex nose. The mane is upright and relatively short. The coat is a rich chestnut colour, darker brown in winter and a sleek reddish brown in late summer, molting its wooly fur. The summer coat is 1.5 centimeters long and the winter coat is double the length. The legs, undersides and ventral part of the nape, end of the muzzle, and the inside of the pinnae are all white. A broad, dark chocolate-coloured dorsal stripe extends from the mane to the end of the tail, which ends in a tuft of blackish brown hairs. Kiang have very slight sexual dimorphism.
Subspecies
The three subspecies of kiang have geographically distinct populations and their morphology is different based on such features as skull proportions, angle of incisors, shape of rump, colour pattern, coat colour, and body size. The eastern kiang is the largest subspecies, the southern kiang is the smallest. The western kiang are slightly smaller than the eastern and also have a darker coat.
- Western Kiang, Equus kiang kiang Moorcroft 1841
- Eastern Kiang, Equus kiang holdereri Matschie 1911
- Southern Kiang, Equus kiang polyodon Hodgson 1847
References
- Equid Specialist Group (1996). [Equus kiang]. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006.
- Duncan, P. (ed.). 1992. Zebras, Asses, and Horses: an Action Plan for the Conservation of Wild Equids. IUCN/SSC Equid Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
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