How do bison differ from buffalo?

Answer 1

Not too much, really. Bison are commonly referred to as the large-humped, small hollow-horned, furry-headed beasts that existed by the millions on the Great Plains (called the Plains or American Bison I believe) and are also found up in northern Canada as Woodlands Bison. Bison of North America are also called Buffalo, but bison has been created as a more proper term, since there are "true" buffalo that exist in the world, such as the Cape Buffalo and the Water Buffalo, both found in Africa and India, respectively.

On the humorous side

There really isn't any difference, with the exception that you cannot wash your hands in a buffalo.

Think about it a bit. You have to be British to understand the differentiation.

Answer 2

Nope. Bison and Buffalo are very different.

The only 2 living examples of buffalo are the African Cape and the Asian Water buffalo.

The only 2 living Bison species are the North American Bison and the European Bison.

They have many differences and are not alike in anyway except that the belong to the Bovine family.

If you want to say a Buffalo is a Bison then you might as well say a sheep is a goat is cow is buffalo.

Answer 3

'Bison' is the real name for the American 'Buffalo' (just a nickname).

Afican Buffalo are called Cape Buffalo

Asian Buffalo are called Water Buffalo.

North American Bison are called.... well... bison...

And European Bison are called Wisent.

And those are the non-extinct species of Bison and Buffalo. Who both belong to the Bovinae family but are not the same. A cow also belongs to that family.

Answer 4

The boney protrusions from the spine from the neck to the withers are typical of a bison. Buffalo lack this, or rather have shorter such protrusions. Bison also are much more hairy from the head to the withers and down to the front legs. Buffalo also lack this.

Answer 5

Bison live on the continent of North America whereas buffalo live on the continent of Africa. Buffalo are hairy not furry.

Answer 6

they are the same thing, just two different words for the same animal. bison have stubby horns

Answer 7

A bison is a bovine. Just like domesticated cattle are bovines. As are yaks, oxen, and buffalo.

Answer 8

Yes. a Buffalo is the same as a Bison, the term Bison comes from a different region of the world.

Answer 9

they are the same

Answer 10

bison are larger