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bison
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Side view illustration of an American bison, also known as plains buffalo (Bison bison), showing its large, shaggy brown body, humped shoulders, and short horns. A scale bar below indicates 30 centimeters and 12 inches for size reference. American bison (Bison bison) standing in tall grass in Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park, with a blurred background of plains and water. A herd of bison (Bison bonasus) grazes in tall prairie grass with mountains visible in the background. An American bison, or plains buffalo (Bison bison), stands in tall yellow grass with open plains in the background. American bison (Bison bison). A large herd of bison runs together across grassy prairie land in Custer State Park, South Dakota. bison European bison (Bison bonasus)
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American bison
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An American bison, or plains buffalo (Bison bison), stands in tall yellow grass with open plains in the background.
bison summary
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Side view illustration of an American bison, also known as plains buffalo (Bison bison), showing its large, shaggy brown body, humped shoulders, and short horns. A scale bar below indicates 30 centimeters and 12 inches for size reference.
American bison (Bison bison) An estimated 50 million American bison (Bison bison, or plains buffalo), probably the largest aggregation of large animals known to recorded history, roamed over North America when Europeans arrived.

bison

mammal
Also known as: Bison
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Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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bison, (genus Bison), either of two species of oxlike grazing mammals that constitute the genus Bison of the family Bovidae. The American bison (B. bison), commonly known as the buffalo or the plains buffalo, is native to North America, and the European bison (B. bonasus), or wisent, is native to Europe. Both species were drastically reduced in numbers by hunting and now occupy small protected areas that are tiny fractions of their former ranges. The...

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