Somali wild asses often live alone, but small herds do exist, usually comprised of mares and their offspring. They have bristly upright black-and-white manes, like their Zebra relatives—along with a soft gray body, a white belly, and unique black-and-white stripes on their legs. Sleek, graceful, proud, and majestic, wild members of the horse family Equidae (horses, zebras, and wild asses) have long held a strong fascination for humans. All wild asses differ from horses and zebras in their smaller size, larger ears, tufted tail, stiff mane, and characteristic loud bray. Found in some of the most unlivable habitats of Africa and Asia, wild asses are able to eke out a living and thrive where most wildlife cannot. African wild asses are divided into two subspecies: Somali and Nubian wild asses. It is possible that only the Somali wild ass remains. All wild asses have bristly upright manes like their zebra relatives. The Somali wild asses have a soft gray body, white belly, spiky black-and-gray mane, and unique black- and-white stripes on their legs that also hint of their family connections! Their short, smooth coat has a purplish hue when the light hits it just right. The smallest of the equids and the only ass with striped legs, the Somali wild ass has small, narrow hooves that help the ass move quickly and safely through its stony habitat. This small, surefooted design led to the domestication of Nubian and Somali wild asses by the Egyptians more than 6,000 years ago!

Somali and Nubian wild asses have been an important part of Africa's history. Their images have been painted in caves by ancient peoples in North Africa, and, at one time, sultans of the area ordered a man's hand cut off if he killed a wild ass. Wild asses are intelligent creatures, with excellent vision and hearing. They'd rather run from predators than fight. If cornered, though, they can kick hard to protect themselves. One swift kick from the business end of a sharp hoof is enough to drive away most predators, such as wolves. Somali wild asses have to deal with extremely high temperatures. Native to the rocky desert of eastern Africa, Somali wild asses rest under any shade they can find until the temperature cools down in the late afternoon and evening, grazing again in the early morning hours. All wild asses are herbivores and spend their time grazing on grasses, but they also eat scrub, bark, and tough desert plants. Their upper and lower incisor teeth clip grass and other vegetation. Molars help to grind the rough food before swallowing. Somali wild asses at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park are fed hay, alfalfa, carrots, and herbivore pellets. Even though they are very well adapted for life in the desert, they must live near a water source and need to drink to survive.

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