In animal breeding, what is the term for hybrids produced by crossing a donkey and a horse, depending on which parent is the sire or the dam?

Introduction / Context:
Hybrid animals are produced when two different but closely related species are crossed, often within the same genus. One of the most familiar examples is the hybrid between a donkey and a horse. These hybrids have been used for centuries as working animals because they combine desirable traits from both parents. General knowledge and biology questions frequently ask about the specific terms used for such hybrids, especially when the names differ depending on which species is the male and which is the female parent.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The question mentions hybrids of a donkey and a horse.
It also implies that there are distinct names depending on which animal is the sire (male parent) and which is the dam (female parent).
Options list pairs like Panthera and mules, mules and hinnies, ligers and hinnies, and wholphins and mules.
We assume basic zoological naming conventions are being tested, not rare or speculative hybrids.

Concept / Approach:
When a male donkey mates with a female horse, the hybrid offspring is called a mule. When a male horse mates with a female donkey, the offspring is called a hinny. Both animals are generally sterile but are widely known examples of interspecific hybrids. Other names in the options, such as liger and wholphin, refer to very different crosses like lion tiger or whale dolphin and have nothing to do with donkey horse hybrids. Therefore, the correct pair of names must be mules and hinnies.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the well known hybrid mule, which is produced from a male donkey and a female horse. Step 2: Remember that the reverse cross, with a male horse and a female donkey, produces a different hybrid called a hinny. Step 3: Note that both mule and hinny are offspring of donkey and horse, differing only in the direction of the cross. Step 4: Examine the options and identify which pair correctly names these two hybrids. Step 5: Recognise that only the option mules and hinnies correctly refers to both possible hybrids of a donkey and a horse.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard zoology books and credible encyclopedias describe the mule as the offspring of a jack donkey and a mare horse, and the hinny as the offspring of a stallion horse and a jenny donkey. Both hybrids are usually sterile and valued for their strength and endurance. None of the other animal names in the options share this specific parentage. Checking these sources confirms that the correct terms for donkey horse hybrids are mule and hinny, taken together as mules and hinnies when referring to both directions of the cross.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Panthera refers to a genus that includes big cats like lions and tigers and is not a hybrid of donkey and horse. Liger is the hybrid of a male lion and a female tiger, again unrelated to equines. Wholphin is a rare hybrid of a false killer whale and a dolphin. These examples are interesting in their own right but have no connection to donkey horse crossings. Therefore, any option that pairs these names with mule or hinny is incorrect for this specific question.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may recognise the word mule but may not be familiar with the term hinny, leading them to hesitate when a second name appears in the options. Others may be distracted by exotic hybrid names such as liger or wholphin, which are often featured in popular media. To avoid confusion, it is useful to remember that donkey horse hybrids specifically produce mules in one direction and hinnies in the reverse direction, and that these are the standard terms tested in exams.

Final Answer:
The hybrids produced by crossing a donkey and a horse are called mules and hinnies, depending on which animal is the male and which is the female parent.