Hidden Horses - and other Equidae Quiz

Answer:

The Horses (Equidae)

Takhi
This stocky, tough animal is the only truly wild horse left in the world today, native to the windy grasslands of Mongolia. They almost went completely extinct in the 1960s, but scientists successfully bred them in captivity and released them back into the wild. You might also hear people call them Przewalski's horse, but takhi is their traditional Mongolian name.

Tarpan
This was an ancient, beautiful gray wild horse that used to roam the open forests and steppes of Europe. Sadly, they went extinct in the early 20th century due to habitat loss and hunting by farmers who wanted to protect their crops. Today, scientists are trying to breed modern horses with similar traits to recreate a horse that looks just like them.

Kiang
Living high up on the freezing Tibetan Plateau, this is the largest wild ass species in the world. They have a gorgeous, thick coat that turns deep reddish-brown in the summer and switches to a sleek, dark brown in the winter. They are incredibly tough and can run surprisingly fast across rocky, mountainous terrain where humans can barely breathe.

Onager
This fast, desert-dwelling Equidae is a species of wild ass native to the dry plains of the Middle East and Central Asia. They look a bit like a mix between a small horse and a donkey, showing off - or really not showing off - a sandy-beige coat that helps them blend into the dirt. They are built for extreme survival, easily enduring scorching hot days and freezing desert nights.

Khulan
This is a specific type of wild ass that lives in the harsh, dry environment of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia. They travel in massive herds to find patches of grass and hidden water holes across the barren landscape. Because water is so scarce, they have learned to dig deep holes in dry riverbeds just to find a drink.

Quagga
This was a cousin of the plains zebra that went extinct in the late 1800s. They looked really interesting because they only had stripes on their head and neck, while the rest of their body was a solid brown color like a horse - kind of a reverse okapi. European settlers in South Africa hunted them so heavily for their meat and skins that they completely vanished from the earth.

Mule
This is a hybrid created by crossing a male donkey with a female horse. They are widely loved by farmers and trekkers because they have the strength of a horse mixed with the patience and sure-footedness of a donkey. Mules are also highly intelligent, which sometimes gets them mistaken for them just being stubborn. Like Yours Truly in high school. "I wasn't a pain in the donkey, Mom, I was just highly intelligent."

Hinny
This is a rare type of hybrid animal that is born when a male horse mates with a female donkey. They are much harder to breed than mules and tend to be a bit smaller, usually looking more like a donkey with a horse's head. They are quiet, gentle creatures, but you don't see them very often because the genetics are tricky to get right.

Zorse
This striking hybrid is the result of crossing a male zebra with a female domestic horse. They usually have the strong, athletic body shape of a horse but are covered in beautiful zebra stripes across their legs and torso. While they look awesome, they tend to inherit the wild, aggressive temperament of a zebra, making them very difficult for humans to train. But they DO look awesome. Do yourself a favour and go Google! They are even cooler than a liger.

Mustang
These are the legends. They are the free-roaming horses that run wild across the plains of the American West. They are descendants of Spanish horses brought to the Americas by explorers hundreds of years ago. Today, they are protected by law as symbols of historic pioneer spirit and are famous for being incredibly smart and adaptable. They are also a fairly good sports coupe.

Brumby
These are the wild, free-roaming feral horses that live out in the rugged bush and deserts of Australia. They descended from horses that escaped or were lost by early European settlers who moved to the continent. Because they have lived in the harsh wilderness for generations, they have evolved to be incredibly tough and agile, but the Aussie ecosystem would be better off without them.

Garron
This is a small, stocky, and rugged workhorse that comes from the cold, rocky highlands of Scotland. They were traditionally bred by farmers to haul heavy loads of peat, wood, and deer across steep, muddy mountains where larger horses would sink. They are calm and can survive on very little food.

Clydesdale
This massive, gentle giant is a heavy draft horse that originally comes from the River Clyde valley in Scotland, although int the USA they are more likely to be known as 'those Budweiser beer horses'. They are instantly recognizable by their huge size, their flashy white faces, and the long, flowing "feathering" hair around their hooves. Even though they are powerful enough to pull heavy beer wagons, they have an incredibly laid-back and friendly attitude.

Friesian
Hailing from the province of Friesland in the Netherlands, this breed has a jet-black coat and powerful build. They have long, wavy manes and tails that look like something from a fairytale. Because they move with a beautiful, high-stepping trot, they are highly prized today for carriage driving and medieval films.

Appaloosa
This American horse breed has colorful, spotted coat patterns that make them look like they've been splashed with paint. They were originally bred by the Nez Perce Native American tribe, who selected them for their speed, intelligence, and fierce loyalty. Aside from their spots, you can easily spot them by looking for their unique striped hooves and the white circles around their eyes.


The NOT-the Horses (Equidae)

Okapi
This strange-looking animal lives deep in the rainforests of Central Africa and looks like a mix between a zebra and a horse. Even though it has black and white zebra stripes on its legs, it is actually the only living relative of the giraffe. They are very shy, solitary creatures that use their long, blue tongues to strip leaves right off of tree branches.

Oncilla
It is a tiny wild cat native to the mountain forests of Central and South America. They are roughly the same size as a typical house cat, but they sport a beautiful, spotted coat that helps them hide in the trees. Because they are nocturnal and incredibly stealthy, humans rarely ever get to see them in the wild.

Karakul
It's one of the oldest breeds of domestic sheep in the world. Originating in Namibia and Central Asia, these hardy animals are built to survive severe droughts and extreme weather. They have thick, texturized wool, which people have used for centuries to make warm hats and coats.

Goral
This small, stocky animal that looks like a blend between a goat and an antelope. They are native to the steep, rocky mountains of Asia and are masters at climbing dangerous cliffs to escape predators. They have short, backward-curved horns and thick coats that keep them warm in freezing mountain altitudes.

Markhor
Another wild goat native to the rugged mountains of Central Asia, the males have spectacular, corkscrew-shaped horns that can grow up to five feet long. They are excellent climbers and spend their days scaling incredibly steep, treacherous cliffs to find grass to eat.

Capercaillie
This bird is the largest member of the grouse family and lives in the cold pine forests of Europe and Asia. The males have dark, metallic feathers and perform loud, clicking display dances during the spring. These clicking sounds are actually responsible for its nickname..."The Horse of the Woods".