Lessons in Animal Husbandry (and Other Random Things I've Recently Learned)

1. llama (m.) + alpaca (f.) = huarizo
2. llama (f.) + alpaca (m.) = misti
3. horse (m.) + donkey (f.) = hinny
4. horse (f.) + donkey (m.) = mule
5. A male donkey is called a jack.
6. A female donkey is called a jenny.
   
7. Though ass is often used as a synonym for donkey, it technically refers to "any of several hardy gregarious African or Asian perissodactyl mammals (genus Equus) smaller than the horse and having long ears; especially : an African mammal (East asinus) that is the ancestor of the donkey" (per Merriam-Webster).
8. The ass is an endangered species. In fact, the African wild ass is listed as "Critically Endangered" by the World Conservation Union. According to a 2003 "ass headcount," there are apparently no asses in the United States. (I'm sure many would dispute this statement.)
9. Peppermint Patty's real name is Patricia Reichardt. I have no idea why Marcie called her "Priscilla" in A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.
   

Lunchtime conversations at work and the ensuing research they inspire certainly yield fascinating results.