Bison vs. Buffalo

Main Difference

Bison and Buffaloes are two most confused animals present in the world which are considered as same or regarded as one from the ancient times. In actual Buffalos are way much more different regarding their habitat, living environment, physical shape and characters from a Bison. People living in South and North America surely does not have seen Buffaloes in their lives, and the same goes for the people living in Africa and Asia who haven’t seen a Bison. Bison is a huge grazing herbivore animals which are only found in North and South America and in some parts of Europe too. On the other hand, Buffalo is big black grazing animals with large horns found in the Africa and Asia. Buffaloes by their geographical area possess different characteristics and are categorized as Cape buffalo (Found in Africa) and water buffalo (Found in Asia). Bison belongs to the same species and family to the buffaloes but differs in the genus. Bison is quite different by its weight, physical characters, and shape, etc.

Difference Between Bison and Buffalo

Comparison Chart

What is Bison?

Bison is a member of the same family as Buffaloes (Bovidae) and is found in North America, South America and in some parts of Europe. The most population of Bison is found in North and South America. People of South and North America usually does not see buffaloes in their lives as there are no buffaloes they’re other than Africa and Asia. So due to the misconception from the ancient times, people consider Bison as a buffalo and usually regard them as buffaloes, whereas although bison do belong to the same family like buffaloes do, but it is quite different from buffaloes regarding their size, shape, weight, habitat and various other characteristics. Bison is the grazing herbivore animal that is found in the cold and rugged areas of American continents. Bison is usually of brown color. It possesses a thick fur on all over its body which is of light brown color and can be seen from an even long distance. The Bison have thick beard around their neck which grows up larger with their age. The beard is of maroon color and is quite apparent on the brown furred body. All these characters and color combinations are absent in the buffalos. Bison possesses two short horns that are quite sharp in nature and are used for fighting and defense purpose. Bison has a large hump above their head and neck which is quite clear. It is not like the hump that camels do possess but it is yet apparent and give a gigantic shape to the massive structure and frame of bison. Bison is wild in nature and is not tamed or domesticated in usual. They are used for a various purpose which includes meat, shelter and making clothes and even some even.

What is Buffalo?

Buffaloes are grazing herbivore animals found in Africa and Asia. Buffaloes by their geographical area are divided into two basic kinds, Cape buffaloes are found in rugged and rocky areas of Africa and are wild in nature. One the other hand Water buffaloes are found in Asia and are tamed and domesticated. Water Buffaloes are present in most abundance in the world. Water buffaloes are used for milk, used as cattle and used for meat. Buffaloes are black color and do not possess any hump, unlike bison.