Final answer:
The statement is false; Equus asinus refers to the domesticated donkey, not the true horse. The scientific name for the modern horse is Equus caballus, and both are separate species within the Equus genus.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that Equus asinus is the scientific name for today's true horse is false. The true horse, or the domesticated horse, is known by the scientific name Equus caballus. Equus asinus, on the other hand, refers to the domesticated donkey. The evolutionary history of horses is complex, with many species that have adapted over time to changing environments, such as changes in climate and habitat from forest to prairie.
This has resulted in forms better adapted to grazing and escaping predators through running. However, Equus caballus and Equus asinus are different species within the same genus, Equus, which includes several other members such as Przewalski's horse (Equus ferus przewalskii), a rare and endangered subspecies of wild horse.
Learn more about Scientific Names of Horses