Head to head
Onager vs Kiang
Onager
VS Kiang
The onager and kiang are the two best-known wild asses of Asia, one a runner of low deserts and steppes and the other the largest wild ass, living on the roof of the world.
| Onager | Kiang | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Equus hemionus | Equus kiang |
| Group | The Asiatic wild ass | The largest of the wild asses |
| Local names | Khulan in Mongolia, kulan in Central Asia, and khur in India | Also called the Tibetan wild ass |
| Coat | A sandy to reddish-brown coat with a white belly and a dark stripe along its back | A rich chestnut coat with a white belly, legs, and muzzle, and a dark stripe along its back |
| Habitat | Deserts, semi-deserts, and steppes | High plains and mountain grassland at roughly 2,700 to more than 5,000 metres |
| Range | From Iran and Turkmenistan across Central Asia to Mongolia and western India | The Tibetan Plateau and neighbouring areas of China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan |
| Speed | Able to run at up to about 70 km/h | Gallops fast across open ground when disturbed, as a defence against wolves |
| Conservation status | Endangered, with a decreasing population | Least Concern, with an increasing population |
Onager vs Kiang: common questions
Which wild ass is the largest?
The kiang, the largest of the wild asses.
Which wild ass is endangered?
The onager, which has declined across much of its range because of hunting and competition with livestock.
Where do the onager and kiang live?
The onager lives in deserts, semi-deserts, and steppes from Iran to Mongolia and western India, while the kiang lives on the Tibetan Plateau.