buffalos

Buffalos are large hoofed mammals in the subfamily Bovinae. The term commonly refers to two wild species in Africa and Asia: the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). In North America, animals called buffalo are usually American bison (Bison bison), a different genus. Because naming varies by region, buffalos can describe wild species as well as domesticated animals derived from them. This article uses buffalos as a general, non-taxonomic term.

Physical characteristics and habitat: African buffalo are stocky with large curved horns that form a boss in mature bulls; their coats are dark and variable. Water buffalo are larger and heavier, with horns that curve outward and backward; domesticated forms are often dark gray. American bison have a distinctive hump, shaggy coat, and relatively short horns. Buffalos occupy diverse habitats: water buffalo favor wetlands and river basins, African buffalo live in savannas and woodlands, and bison roam prairies and plains. They are herbivores, feeding on grass and browse, and typically live in herds with complex social structures.

Human interactions: Buffalos have long been domesticated or utilized for milk, meat, draft work, and hides, especially water buffalo in South Asia and parts of Europe. Wild buffalo species face conservation pressures from habitat loss, disease, and hunting in some regions. Domesticated populations are widespread and economically important, particularly for dairy products such as buffalo milk and for agricultural labor. Taxonomic naming varies by region, which can lead to common confusion between buffalo and bison.