Editing Mule (section)

== Characteristics ==

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In general terms, in both mules and hinnies, the foreparts and head of the animal are similar to those of the [[sire (horse)|sire]] (father), while the hindparts and tail tend to resemble those of the [[dam (horse)|dam]] (mother).{{r|cabi|p=36}} Mules are generally larger than hinnies, with longer ears and a heavier head like donkeys, while their tails are usually covered with long hair like that of horses.{{r|cabi|p=37}} Mules have thin limbs, small narrow hooves, and short [[mane (horse)|mane]]s like donkeys, while their height, shape of neck and body, and uniformity of their coat and teeth are more similar to what is seen in horses.{{r|EB1911}}

Mules vary widely in size, from small miniature mules under {{convert|125|cm|-1|abbr=on}} to large and powerful draught mules standing up to {{convert|180|cm|-1|abbr=on}} at the [[withers]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2025-02-01 |title=Mule {{!}} Draft Horse, Donkey & Hybrid {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/animal/mule-mammal |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>{{r|ensminger|p=86}} The median weight range is between about {{convert|370|and|460|kg|lb|abbr=on|sigfig=2|comma=off}}.<ref name=":1" /> 

Mules’ coats may be of any color seen in the horse or donkey. Mules usually display the light points commonly seen in donkeys: pale or mealy areas on the belly and the insides of the thighs, on the muzzle, and around the eyes. They often have [[primitive markings]] such as dorsal stripes, shoulder stripes, or zebra stripes on the legs.{{r|cabi|p=37}}

Mules exhibit [[hybrid vigor]].<ref>{{cite book |doi=10.1002/9781118552872.ch8 |chapter=Heterosis: The Case for Single-Gene Overdominance |title=Polyploid and Hybrid Genomics |date=2013 |last1=Liberatore |first1=Katie L. |last2=Jiang |first2=Ke |last3=Zamir |first3=Dani |last4=Lippman |first4=Zachary B. |pages=137–152 |isbn=978-0-470-96037-0 }}</ref> [[Charles Darwin]] wrote: "The mule always appears to me a most surprising animal. That a hybrid should possess more reason, memory, obstinacy, social affection, powers of muscular endurance, and length of life, than either of its parents, seems to indicate that art has here outdone nature."<ref name=Darwin>{{cite book |last=Darwin |first=Charles |year=1879 |title=What Mr. Darwin Saw in His Voyage Round the World in the Ship 'Beagle' |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GY41AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA33 |publisher=Harper & Bros. |location=New York |pages=33–34 |access-date=16 July 2014}}</ref>

Mules inherits from donkeys the traits of intelligence, sure-footedness, toughness, endurance, disposition, and natural cautiousness; from horses, they inherit speed, conformation, and agility.<ref name=Hauer2014>{{cite book |editor-last=Hauer |editor-first=John |year=2014 |title=The Natural Superiority of Mules |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FVJlAgAAQBAJ |publisher=Skyhorse |isbn=978-1-62636-166-9 |access-date=16 July 2014}}</ref>{{rp|5–6,8}} They grow faster and live longer, giving them a larger interval of productivity compared to horses or donkeys.<ref name=":03" /> They rarely become ill, unlike horses, who often need to be checked for worms, and like their donkey fathers, mules can see their hind legs and have hooves better suited to dry climates.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=Differences between Horses and Donkeys |url=https://donkeymuletrust.org.nz/differences-3/ |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=Donkey & Mule Protection Trust NZ |language=en-NZ}}</ref> Additionally, mules’ skin is tougher than that of horses or donkeys, and they tend to live longer on less resources than horses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reasons why Mules rule |url=https://www.thebrooke.org/news/reasons-mules-rule |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=Brooke |language=en}}</ref> Mules are reputed to exhibit a higher cognitive intelligence than both of their parent species, but robust scientific evidence to back up these claims is lacking. Preliminary data exist from at least two evidence-based studies, but they rely on [[sample size|a limited set of specialized cognitive tests and a small number of subjects]].<ref name="MuleCognition">{{cite journal |last=Proops |first=Leanne |author2=Faith Burden |author3=Britta Osthaus |date=18 July 2008 |title=Mule cognition: a case of hybrid vigor? |journal=Animal Cognition |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=75–84 |doi=10.1007/s10071-008-0172-1 |pmid=18636282 |s2cid=27962537}}</ref><ref name=Giebel1958>{{cite journal |last1=Giebel |display-authors=etal |date=1958 |title=Visuelles Lernvermögen bei Einhufern |journal=Zoologische Jahrbücher |series=Physiologie |volume=67 |pages=487–520}}</ref>

Similar to other equine animals, mules can sleep while standing (mostly to protect themselves against danger). To prevent predation, a group of mules may select members of the pack to "stand watch" while sleeping upright as the others sleep on the ground.<ref name="caring"/>