Bison is a genus of large bovines, family Bovidae, subfamily Bovinae, comprising two living species, the American bison, found exclusively in North America, and the European bison or wisent, native to Europe and the Caucasus. Bison are broad, muscular animals with shaggy coats of long hair, standing up to two meters tall and weighing 400 to 1,270 kilograms in the American species; they are nomadic grazers that travel in herds and are more closely related to yaks and cattle than to true buffalo, despite being colloquially called buffalo in North America. The American species once ranged across much of North America, including the eastern United States and parts of Mexico, before populations were reduced to protected lands; the European species went extinct in the wild before being reintroduced.
Facts
Taxonomic Rank Scientific Name Member Species/Taxa Count Geographic DistributionThe American bison, Bison bison, is found only in North America 1 Defining CharacteristicsBroad and muscular, with shaggy coats of long hair 1 Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceThe American species has 15 ribs, while the European bison has 14 1 Classification
Living or Extinct In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Bison - Wikipedia
Description section, opening sentence
A bison (pl.: bison) is a large bovine in the genus Bison
Description section, genus naming clause
A bison (pl.: bison) is a large bovine in the genus Bison
Introduction, lead paragraph
Two extant and numerous extinct species are recognised.
Description section, species range sentence
the American bison, B. bison, found only in North America, is the more numerous
Description section, body build sentence
They are broad and muscular with shaggy coats of long hair.
Description section, rib count sentence
The American species has 15 ribs, while the European bison has 14.
View the Source2. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ18099, descriptionView the Source Wikidata: Bison
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