Equus ferus przewalski
Przewalski’s horses (pronounced she-VAHL-skeez) is named after a famous Russian explorer and naturalist. This horse is only remaining truly wild “horse” in the world and may be the closest living wild relative of the modern horse. DNA evidence shows that modern horses are descended from not one, but several wild populations suggesting that they were domesticated in different areas of the world.
Fun Facts
- In the wild they live in small herds called harems led by a senior mare with 2-4 other mares and one stallion who stays on the edge of the group.
- Two babies were successfully birthed here at the El Paso Zoo with plans to send them back to the wild in order to bolster wild populations.
- They are commonly referred to by the short hand, P. Horse.
- Horses are covered with a thick layer of fur.
Classification
Class: Mammalia
Order: Perissodactyla
Family: Equidae
Genus: Equus
Species: przewalski
Habitat
Przewalski's horses were last found on the Mongolian steppes of the Gobi Desert. The Gobi is different from the Sahara, as only a tiny part of it is sandy desert. It is extremely dry, but the region also has springs, steppes, forests, and high mountains, and supports a great diversity of animals.