The distinction between “buffalo” and “bison” is a common source of confusion regarding these large, horned mammals of the Bovidae family. While the names are often used interchangeably in American English, they refer to two groups of animals separated by geography, physical traits, and evolutionary history. A closer look at their native homes and anatomical features reveals that they are not the same creature.
Global Habitats and Origins
The clearest way to separate the two groups is by examining their native ranges across the globe. Bison are found exclusively in the Northern Hemisphere, with species native to both North America and Europe. The American bison, which once roamed the Great Plains, is the largest terrestrial animal on that continent. The European bison, often called the wisent, is a separate species that historically inhabited the forests and woodlands across Europe.
True buffaloes, on the other hand, are strictly indigenous to the continents of Africa and Asia. The Cape buffalo is found across sub-Saharan Africa. The other main type, the water buffalo, has its origins in South Asia, where it has been integral to human agriculture for thousands of years.
Distinctive Physical Characteristics
The most apparent differences between bison and true buffaloes are found in their physical structure. Bison possess a massive, pronounced hump over their shoulders, which is a bundle of muscle fibers supported by elongated vertebral spines. This powerful structure enables the bison to use its heavy head to plow through deep snow in search of winter forage. True buffaloes, including the African Cape buffalo and the Asian water buffalo, lack this dorsal hump, presenting a more uniformly muscular body profile.
Bison are also recognized by their thick, shaggy coats, which are particularly dense around the head, neck, and shoulders, forming a distinctive beard and mane. This heavy fur is an adaptation to the harsh, cold climates of the Northern Hemisphere. In contrast, true buffaloes have much sparser, smoother coats, which are better suited to the warmer, tropical regions they inhabit.
The structure of the horns provides a simple visual cue for identification. Bison horns are short, sharp, and curve upward, typically reaching lengths of 18 to 24 inches. True buffaloes feature much larger, heavier horns with a wider spread. The Cape buffalo is particularly identifiable by its horns that fuse in the middle of the forehead, creating a solid bony shield known as a boss. This boss then sweeps down and curls up. Asian water buffaloes exhibit long, crescent-shaped horns that curve backward, sometimes spanning up to six feet in length.
Scientific Classification and Terminology
The scientific community maintains a clear separation between the two groups, placing them in different genera despite both belonging to the family Bovidae, which includes cattle. All bison species, including the American bison (Bison bison) and the European wisent (Bison bonasus), are classified under the genus Bison. True buffaloes, however, belong to separate genera, confirming their distinct evolutionary paths.
The African Cape buffalo is classified under the genus Syncerus, while the Asian water buffalo belongs to the genus Bubalus. Genetically, bison are considered more closely related to domestic cattle than they are to the true buffaloes of Africa and Asia.
The common confusion in North America, where the American bison is frequently called a buffalo, originates from historical misnomers. Early European explorers and settlers likely applied the familiar term “buffalo” due to a perceived resemblance to the Old World species they knew. Another theory suggests the name may have evolved from the French word boeuf, meaning ox or beef, which became corrupted into the term “buffalo” over time. This historical linguistic accident is why the term persists in the popular American vernacular, despite the clear scientific and physical differences.