Is it correct that a donkey and a horse can mate to produce a mule foal, but two mules cannot?

Question

I can't remember where I heard this, but don't know if it's true or not.

Answer 1

Yes, its true. The same goes for zebras, horses and donkeys as well. Zonkeys, zorses and zebrass are also sterile.

Donkeys and horses have a different number of chromosomes which is principally what causes their offspring to be sterile.

Answer 2

There are two horse donkey crosses possible:

male donkey x female horse = mule
male horse x female donkey = hinny

Male hinnies and mules are always sterile. They have an odd number of chromosomes (63) and meiosis and spermatogenesis cannot take place.

The same usually applies to females, although rarely they may be partially fertile. The general rule seems to be that they pass on their maternally inherited set of chromosomes so that if you cross a mule (mother is a horse) with a horse sire, then the offspring is 100% horse.

Answer 3

Mules are usually infertile but female mules have given birth when mated by a horse. Two mules do not produce young.

Answer 4

A mule is a hybrid and hybrids are generally sterile. This is nature's way of ensuring that the two species, in this case horses and donkeys, continue to survive rather than all ending up as mules.

Answer 5

Yes, because horses and donkeys are two different species. They can mate and produce offspring, but that offspring-the mule- is always born sterile.

Answer 6

Mules are infertile

Answer 7

Mules are hybrids and can't reproduce.

Answer 8

mules are sterile

Answer 9

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Answer 10

Yes that is correct.