Bison vs Buffalo: What’s the Difference?
The main difference between bison and buffalo is that bison have a large shoulder hump, a shaggy coat and a beard, while true buffalo have none of these and carry much larger horns. The 'buffalo' of the American West is really a bison. True buffalo live only in Africa and Asia: the African or Cape buffalo, compared here, and the Asian water buffalo.
| American Bison | African Buffalo | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Bison bison | Syncerus caffer |
| Lifespan | 12–20 years in the wild | 15–20 years in the wild |
| Weight | 360–900 kg (790–2,000 lb) | 300–900 kg (660–1,980 lb) |
| Size | 1.5–1.9 m (5–6.2 ft) (shoulder height) | 1.0–1.7 m (3.3–5.6 ft) (shoulder height) |
| Top speed | 56 km/h (35 mph) | 56 km/h (35 mph) |
| Gestation / incubation | about 9.5 months (270–285 days) | about 340 days (11 months) |
| Diet | Herbivore | Herbivore |
| Family | Bovidae | Bovidae |
| Habitat | Prairie, Grassland, River valley, Boreal forest meadow | Savanna, Floodplain, Swamp, Woodland, Rainforest |
| IUCN status | Near Threatened | Near Threatened |
Figures shown are for the american bison (Bison bison) and the african buffalo (Syncerus caffer).
Key differences
The name
Early European explorers in North America called bison 'buffalo,' probably after the French word 'boeufs' or because the animals reminded them of Old World buffalo, and the name stuck in places like Buffalo, Wyoming, and the song 'Home on the Range.' Scientifically the animal is Bison bison. It is not a member of either buffalo genus, Syncerus or Bubalus.
Hump and head
A bison carries a massive hump over the shoulders, formed by long spines on the vertebrae and the muscles that anchor its huge, low-slung head. It uses that head as a snowplow to reach grass in winter. African buffalo have a fairly level back and carry the head higher, with no hump at all.
Coat and beard
Bison are built for harsh continental winters, with a thick, woolly coat, a shaggy cape over the head, shoulders and forelegs, and a long beard, all partly shed in ragged patches each spring. African buffalo live in warm climates and have a short, sparse, dark coat, large drooping fringed ears and no beard.
Horns
Bison horns are short, sharp and curve upward from the sides of the head. African buffalo horns are far larger, sweeping down and then up in a wide hook. In mature bulls the horn bases fuse into a thick bony shield across the forehead called a boss. Asian water buffalo have the widest horn span of any living bovid.
Range
American bison live in North America, and their close relative the wisent, or European bison, lives in Europe. African buffalo are found across sub-Saharan Africa, in savanna, swamp and forest. Wild water buffalo are native to South and Southeast Asia, and their domestic descendants work farms and supply milk around the world.
Relationship with people
Bison once numbered in the tens of millions and were hunted to fewer than a thousand animals by the late 1880s before recovering under protection; the bison became the national mammal of the United States in 2016. African buffalo have never been domesticated and are notoriously dangerous when wounded. Water buffalo were domesticated thousands of years ago.
How to tell them apart
- A big shoulder hump and a low-hanging, shaggy head mean bison.
- A beard and a woolly cape over the front half of the body mean bison.
- Wide, hooked horns joined by a helmet-like boss across the forehead mean African buffalo.
- Any wild 'buffalo' seen in North America, including Yellowstone, is actually a bison.
What they have in common
Bison and buffalo all belong to the cattle tribe, Bovini, within the family Bovidae, so they are relatives of domestic cows. Both sexes grow permanent, unbranched horns that are never shed. They are large, herd-living grazers that chew the cud, wallow in dust or mud, and defend themselves as a group. The American bison and African buffalo are both listed as Near Threatened.
Frequently asked questions
Are bison and buffalo the same thing?
No. They are different animals in different genera. Bison live in North America and Europe, while true buffalo live in Africa and Asia. Americans have called bison 'buffalo' for centuries, and the name is widely accepted in everyday use, but biologically it is a misnomer.
Who would win, a bison or a Cape buffalo?
There is no way to know, since they live on different continents. The American bison is generally the heavier animal, while the Cape buffalo has far more formidable horns and a reputation for aggression, regularly fighting off lions. Both are powerful animals that defend themselves effectively against large predators.
Can bison and buffalo interbreed?
No. Bison cannot breed with African buffalo or water buffalo, which are more distant relatives. Bison can, however, breed with domestic cattle. The offspring are known as beefalo, and as a result of past crossbreeding many bison herds today carry small amounts of cattle DNA.
Which is more dangerous, a bison or an African buffalo?
The African buffalo has the more fearsome reputation and is counted among Africa's most dangerous animals, particularly lone bulls and wounded animals. Bison are also dangerous. In Yellowstone, they injure more visitors than any other animal, usually because people approach too closely for photos.