Przewalski's horse facts, pictures and in-depth information. Przewalski's horse is a wild horse that became extinct in the wild in the 1960’s. Today’s wild population is formed of the descendants of just 12 captive specimens.
Przewalski's Horse Facts at a Glance
- Other Name(s): Asian wild horse, Mongolian wild horse, Dzungarian horse, takhi
- Scientific name: Equus ferus przewalskii or Equus przewalskii
- Type of Animal: Mammal
- Animal Family: Equidae (also known as ‘the horse family’)
- Where Found: Mongolia
- Head-Body Length: 2 to 2.6 m (7.3 to 8.5 ft.)
- Shoulder Height: 3 to 1.5 m (4.3 to 5.0 ft.)
- Weight: 250 to 360 kg (550 to 800 lb.)
- Tail Length: 90 cm (35 in)
- Conservation Status: Endangered
Meet Przewalski's Horse: Introduction
Przewalski's horse was named after the Russian explorer and naturalist Nikolay Przewalski. He first described the animal while exploring in Central Asia in the latter part of the nineteenth century.
(A species is said to be ‘described’ when it is named and recognized as a new species.)
Przewalski's horse is considered by many to be the last truly wild horse since it has never been domesticated by humans.
The taxonomic status of Przewalski's horse is debated by scientists. Some consider the animal to be a subspecies (type) of wild horse (Equus ferus).
(Other wild horse subspecies include the domesticated horse (Equus ferus caballus) and the now extinct tarpan (Equus ferus ferus)).
Other scientists believe the Przewalski's horse to be a separate species. Przewalski's horse and the domesticated horse have a different number of chromosomes (Przewalski's horse has 66 pairs in contrast to domestic horse's 64).
Nevertheless, the two types of horse are able to mate and produce fertile offspring. If they are not the same species, then they are very closely related.
Przewalski's horse became extinct in the wild in the late 1960s. The only surviving Przewalski's horses were those found in zoos in Munich and in Prague.
The species has since been reintroduced into the wild. Reintroductions began in Mongolia in 1992.
All of today’s reintroduced animals are descended from just 12 Przewalski's horses (caught from the wild between 1899 and 1947) and up to 4 domesticated horses.
The wild population of Przewalski's horse is now thought to number several hundred. This includes a small population (numbering around 60 horses in 2014) found in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (the area surrounding the site of 1986's catastrophic nuclear accident).
In the fascinating video below, you can see the horses in this deserted area:
What Does Przewalski's Horse Look Like?
Przewalski's horse looks much like the domesticated horse. However, there are a number of notable differences.
Przewalski's horse is smaller and more muscular than the domesticated horse. It has robust legs, a thick neck and a large head with a powerful jaw and long ears.
The mane is stiff and erect with almost nonexistent forelocks (the hair that hangs over the forehead). The coat and mane grow thicker and longer during winter. Both winter coat and mane are shed in the spring.
The coloration of Przewalski's horse is mostly sandy-gray. The flanks are pale brown, the belly and the muzzle are yellowish-white and the mane, tail and the legs are dark.
A dark stripe runs down the animal's mid-back from the neck to the base of its tail. Faint zebra-like stripes are often present on the horse's legs.
Where Is Przewalski's Horse Found?
Historically, Przewalski's horse was found throughout Europe and Asia. The species’ range gradually contracted until all that was left was a population in southwestern Mongolia. As we’ve found, the species finally became extinct in the wild during the mid-20th century.
Today, wild populations are found in a handful of reintroduction sites in Mongolia, China, Kazakhstan and Ukraine.
Przewalski's Horse Habitat
Przewalski's horse prefers grassy lowland plains and shrubland. The animal is also able to tolerate the arid conditions of semi-desert habitats provided it has access to waterholes.
The typical home range of a Przewalski's horse appears to include areas for grazing, a permanent source of water and patches of forest.
The species has been sighted at elevations of up to 2,400 m (8,000 ft.).
Behavior
Przewalski's horse typically lives in small family groups known as harems. These consist of a stallion (a male horse typically 5 years of age or older), up to 3 mature mares, and their young offspring.
These family groups may join with others to form larger herds. Stallions without a harem (either because they're too young or have been unsuccessful in forming one) typically live together in ‘bachelor groups’.
Przewalski's horse tends to be shy and constantly on the alert for any sign of potential danger. The species is not territorial.
Communication
Przewalski's horses communicate with each other in a number of different ways. These include: vocalizations, scent marking, visual signals (e.g. ear tilting), and touch (e.g. grooming and kicking).
Przewalski's Horse Life Cycle
Both mating and giving birth take place during the spring and summer. Pregnancy lasts from 11 to 12 months. The mares come into heat and begin to mate again around a week after giving birth.
Stallions living in family groups defend their harem from rival males. Stallions living in bachelor groups attempt to get access to mares either by taking over an established family group or by forming a new one with mares that have newly dispersed from their natal groups.
The young of Przewalski's horse are born relatively mature and mobile: foals are able to stand around an hour after birth and start walking soon after.
Weaning takes place between 8 and 13 months of age. The young disperse from their natal harem when they are 2 to 3 years old.
What Do Przewalski's Horses Eat?
Przewalski's horse is a herbivore. It feeds mainly on grassy vegetation together with leaves from shrubby trees. It may also eat bark, buds and fruit.
The grasses which make up the bulk of the horse’s diet are low in nutrients. They have to be eaten in large quantities to provide the nutrients that that horse needs.
Przewalski's horse spends more than half of the day grazing and searching for food and water. Seasonal movements depend largely on the availability of food.
The composition of the horse’s diet also changes from season to season; the horses favor specific plant species during different times of the year.
Is Przewalski's Horse Endangered?
Przewalski's horse is currently rated as being 'Endangered' by the IUCN.
The rating was revised from 'Extinct in the Wild' (1960s) to 'Critically Endangered' (1990s) after the first reintroductions in Mongolia. The current assessment was carried out in 2014.
The horse’s limited range, small population and limited genetic diversity means that Przewalski's horse is very vulnerable to threats such as disease and severe weather.
Other threats include competition with livestock, and potential crossbreeding with domestic horses.
Przewalski's horse is protected in Mongolia.
Discover More Amazing Animals with Active Wild…
- Become an animal expert: Animals: A Complete Guide To The Animal Kingdom
- You can see every species of horse on this page: Horse Species List With Pictures & Facts
- Discover amazing animals from all around the world: A to Z Animals
- Find out about mammals: Mammals: The Ultimate Guide
- See a collection of awesome animal books: Active Wild Natural History Bookstore
Didn’t someone write a book about his travels from North to South America on a Przewalski’s horse?
Hi,
We haven’t heard of this book; perhaps other readers might have?
Regards,
The Active Wild Team