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How are bison different from water buffalo and Cape buffalo?
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bovid
American bison, or plains buffalo (Bison bison).
While bison, water buffalo, and Cape buffalo are all members of the bovid family, they are distinct animals that can be identified by their "three H's": home, hump, and horns.1
- Home: Bison are native to North America and Europe. In contrast, water buffalo are indigenous to South Asia, and Cape buffalo are native to sub-Saharan Africa.2134
- Hump: Bison possess a pronounced shoulder hump, which serves as a functional adaptation allowing them to use their heads as plows to clear snow. Neither water buffalo nor Cape buffalo have this feature.21
- Horns: Buffalo typically have large, prominent horns that can reach lengths of over 6 feet (1.8 meters). Bison horns are significantly shorter and sharper.312
- Other Features: Bison are characterized by their thick, shaggy fur and prominent beards, whereas buffalo are beardless.21
Additionally, while all three are large, oxlike mammals, they belong to different genera: bison are in the genus Bison, water buffalo in Bubalus, and Cape buffalo in Syncerus.324