The Anatomy of Mules: A Unique Blend!
The study of the anatomy of mules, resulting from the cross between a mare (female horse) and a male donkey, involves combining the anatomical characteristics of their parents. This process is like putting horse and donkey traits into a shaker to achieve a variety of unique results.
General
There are mainly two types of mules: the horse mule and the donkey mule. The mule horse takes more characteristics from its mother (the mare), while the mule donkey more closely resembles its father (the donkey).
- Head and neck: The mule-donkey has a strong and heavy head, resting more on the shoulders, while the mule-horse has a lighter head, making it easier to transfer the weight to the hindquarters.
- Back: The greater the influence of the donkey, the straighter the back will be.
- Feet: In general, the feet of mules resemble those of donkeys: smaller and oval in shape.
- Ears: One constant among all mules: long ears!
Osteology:
Study of the bones reveals few significant differences between horse and mule skeletons, complicating the work of historians during archaeological digs. For example, the femur of a horse and that of a mule are almost identical.
Spine: The spine may vary:
- Donkey: C7 T18 L5 S5 Co15-17
- Horse: C7 T18 L6 S5 Co15-21
For both species 7 cervical, 18 thoracic, but 6 lumbar in horses, 5 in the donkey but also the barbed horse and the Arabian horse, horses have more coccygeal vertebrae, therefore a longer tail
The donkey's neck is shorter, this is due to the morphology of the vertebrae and not the number
- Mules can have 5 or 6 lumbar vertebrae.
Basin : The donkey's sacrum, shorter and narrower, is more horizontal, which gives a flat back but allows better lift.
Members : The donkey's femur is shorter than that of the horse, but in the mule it tends to resemble that of the horse. The donkey's shoulder is more vertical, requiring shorter strides.
Genital tool : For donkeys, in females, the cervix is long and narrow, complicating insemination and increasing the risk of tearing during childbirth. in males, the testes and epididymides are relatively large, with a non-glabrous scrotum.
Feet : The general structure and anatomy of the foot are transposable to the donkey and the mule. The few differences that exist with the horse are however essential because they determine the good maintenance and overall health of the foot. More rounded in shape, a view of the plantar surface of the foot gives a wall in lyre shape. The donkey's feet are small and the support is mainly on the clamp and udders giving these characteristic struck looks. The sole has a reduced role, and the heels do not open as they do with each foot strike in the horse. The horn has a high humidity level, it is thick but not very dense compared to that of the horse. A very good post was made by Anouk Nathan, on this site “Le pied des mules”
Dentition : There are few differences between the teeth of donkeys and horses. In donkeys, the permanent second molar appears between 5 and 9 months earlier than in horses, around 15 months.
Skull: Differences include a narrower nasal passage in the donkey, more prominent arches, and greater development of the occipital protuberance. According to S. Arloing (1876), the hinny and the mule retain more of the characteristics of their mother's head. There are many small differences not mentioned, but it's hyper specific
Âne Cheval
Myology :
Muscle quality differs, but the muscle structure of horses and donkeys is broadly similar, on a strictly anatomical level.
Digestive system :
The difference is in physiology, but the organs are identical in mules, horses and donkeys.
For further :
Given the lack of serious and contemporary documentation on this subject, this post will be evolving as progress in the field progresses.