ANIMALS – MAMMALS – EQUIDS – WILD HORSE (EQUUS FERUS)

Animals - Mammals - Equids

Wild Horse (Equus ferus)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Mammalia
Order : Perissodactyla
Family : Equidae
Genus : Equus
Species : E. Ferus

Description:

The Wild horse (Equus ferus) is a species of the genus Equus, which includes as subspecies the modern domesticated horse (Equus ferus caballus) as well as the undomesticated tarpan (Equus ferus ferus), now extinct, and the endangered Przewalski's horse (Equus ferus przewalskii). Przewalski's horse was saved from the brink of extinction and reintroduced successfully to the wild. The tarpan became extinct in the 19th century, though it was a possible ancestor of the domestic horse, and roamed the steppes of Eurasia at the time of domestication. However, other subspecies of Equus ferus may have existed and could have been the stock from which domesticated horses are descended.

The horse family Equidae and the genus Equus evolved in North America, before the species moved into the Eastern Hemisphere. Studies using ancient DNA, as well as DNA of recent individuals, shows the presence of two closely related horse species in North America, the wild horse and the "New World stilt-legged horse”. Currently, three subspecies that lived during recorded human history are recognized. The widespread domestic horse (Equus ferus caballus), the recently extinct tarpan (E. f. ferus) and the endangered Przewalski's horse (E. f. przewalskii). Genetically, the predomestication horse, E. f. ferus, and domesticated horse, E. f. caballus, form a single homogeneous group (clade) and are genetically indistinguishable from each other. Przewalski's horse has several unique genetic differences that distinguish it from the other subspecies, including 66 instead of 64 chromosomes, unique Y-chromosome gene haplotypes, and unique mtDNA haplotypes. Besides genetic differences, osteological evidence from across the Eurasian wild horse range, based on cranial and metacarpal differences, indicates the presence of only two subspecies in postglacial times, the tarpan and Przewalski's horse.

Binomial Name:

Name : Equus ferus
Taxonomist : Pieter Boddaert (Middelburg - Netherlands)
Year : 1785
Subspecies : 3 (Caballus, Przewalskii, Ferus)
Synonyms : None, or not data available

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Endangered

An Endangered (EN) species is a species which has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as likely to become extinct. "Endangered" is the second most severe conservation status for wild populations in the IUCN's schema after Critically Endangered (CR).

Many nations have laws that protect conservation-reliant species: for example, forbidding hunting, restricting land development or creating preserves. Population numbers, trends and species' conservation status can be found in the lists of organisms by population.

Philatelic Issues

2016 – Uruguay – Unique Miniature Sheet, from Patria Gaucha Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: March 4th, 2016
Printed: 10.000 Copies
Type: Unique Miniature Sheet from Series
Value: UYP 20

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 90 mm. x 60 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated