Buffalo
Buffalo is a common name used for several large bovids, especially the African buffalo, water buffalo, and, in North American usage, the American bison.
Buffalo is a common name for several large bovids, including the African buffalo, water buffalo, and, in North America, the American bison. The term is used loosely in everyday speech but has specific meanings in scientific contexts.
What it is
Buffalo belong to the family Bovidae and subfamily Bovinae. They are even-toed ungulates and ruminants, with digestive systems adapted to breaking down fibrous plant material. True buffalo include the African buffalo and water buffalo, while the American bison is often called buffalo in North American usage.
Why it matters
The term 'buffalo' is culturally and historically significant in Canada, especially on the Prairies, where the American bison (often called buffalo) played a key role in Indigenous cultures and the fur trade. Understanding the distinction between true buffalo and bison helps clarify scientific and popular discussions.
Key details
There are no true buffalo native to North America; the animal commonly called buffalo here is actually the American bison. Buffalo are not a single species but an umbrella term for several large bovids. They are ruminants and graze on grass and low-quality plant material.
In short
- Buffalo is a common name, not a scientific classification.
- True buffalo are African buffalo and water buffalo; American bison is often called buffalo in North America.
- All are ruminants in the bovine family Bovidae.
- In Canada, the term often refers to the historically important American bison.
The term is relevant in Canada mainly because the American bison, often called buffalo in popular usage, is historically significant on the Canadian Prairies and in Indigenous cultures.
Quick questions
What animals are called buffalo?
Are buffalo and bison the same thing?
Are buffalo ruminants?
Sources
- New World Encyclopedia — https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/BuffaloSupports: Buffalo as a common name for African buffalo, Asian buffalo, and sometimes American bison; all are bovids and ruminants.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/animal/buffalo-mammalSupports: Buffalo as a name applied to several ruminant mammals of the ox family.
- The Canadian Encyclopedia — https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/bisonSupports: Canadian context on bison versus buffalo and the statement that there are no true buffalo native to North America.
- U.S. National Park Service — https://www.nps.gov/articles/bison_badl.htmSupports: Scientific classification of plains bison and the common use of buffalo as a name for bison.