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A mule is the offspring of a male donkey (jack) and a female horse (mare). Horses and donkeys are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes. Of the two F1 hybrids between these two species, a mule is easier to obtain than a hinny, which is the product of a female donkey (jenny) and a male horse (stallion). The size of a mule and work to which it is put depend largely on the breeding of the mule's dam (female parent). Mules can be lightweight, medium weight, or even, when produced from draft horse mares, of moderately heavy weight. Mules are "more patient, sure-footed, hardy and long-lived than horses, and they are considered less obstinate, faster, and more intelligent than donkeys." A female mule that has estrus cycles and thus, in theory, could carry a fetus, is called a "molly" or "Molly mule," though the term is sometimes used to refer to female mules in general. Pregnancy is rare, but can occasionally occur naturally as well as through embryo transfer. One of several terms for a gelded mule is a "John mule." ==Biology== The median weight range for a mule is between about . Although it depends on the individual animal, an army mule can "carry up to 72 kg and walk 26 km without resting." In general, a mule can be packed with "dead weight" of up to 20% of its body weight, or approximately . The average equine in general can carry up to approximately 30% of its body weight in "live" weight, such as a rider. While a few mules can carry live weight up to , the superiority of the mule becomes apparent in their additional endurance.〔 The mule is valued because, while it has the size and ground-covering ability of its dam, it is stronger than a horse of similar size and inherits the endurance and disposition of the donkey sire, tending to require less food than a horse of similar size. Mules also tend to be more independent than most domesticated equines other than the donkey. A male mule is properly called a ''horse mule'', though often called a ''john mule''. A female mule is properly called a ''mare mule'', though often called a ''Molly mule''. A young male mule is called a ''mule colt'', and a young female is called a ''mule filly''. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「mule」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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