kulan

mammal

Also known as: Equus hemionus hemionus, Equus hemionus kulan, chigetia(Show More)

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Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

The kulan is a type of wild ass, specifically a subspecies of the Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus kulan). It is native to the steppes of Kyrgyzstan.1

Kulan are mammals belonging to the horse family, Equidae. They are known for their speed, with recorded speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. These animals typically inhabit arid regions and can be found in herds, often consisting of a stallion, females, and their young.2

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

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perissodactyl
The wild horse
The chigetia or kulan (E. hemionus hemionus), which was formerly widespread over an immense region of the Gobi, now occurs only in semidesert steppe country in central Mongolia. Hunting and competition for water by pastoral tribesmen are responsible for its decline. The kulan is slightly smaller than the…
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The chigetia or kulan (E. hemionus hemionus), which was formerly widespread over an immense region of the Gobi, now occurs only in semidesert steppe country in central Mongolia. Hunting and competition for water by pastoral tribesmen are responsible for its decline. The kulan is slightly smaller than the…
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Gobi
Animal life
…large mammals as wild camels, kulan (Equus hemionus), dzheiran gazelles, and dzeren (an antelope). Przewalski’s horse, which once ranged in the western region of the desert, is probably extinct in the wild. Rodents include marmots and gophers, and there are reptiles.
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…large mammals as wild camels, kulan (Equus hemionus), dzheiran gazelles, and dzeren (an antelope). Przewalski’s horse, which once ranged in the western region of the desert, is probably extinct in the wild. Rodents include marmots and gophers, and there are reptiles.
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