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African Buffalo

Mammals

The African buffalo is a large, robust bovine native to sub-Saharan Africa, recognized by its heavy build, wide-spreading horns fused at the base into a shield-like boss in mature males, and its formidable reputation as one of the more dangerous large mammals to approach, particularly when wounded or defending a herd. It lives in large herds that can number in the hundreds, providing collective defense against predators such as lions, and it grazes primarily on grasses, often near water, which it needs regularly to drink and wallow in. African buffalo are considered a keystone species in many African ecosystems, shaping vegetation and providing prey for large carnivores, and while overall numbers remain relatively stable in well-protected areas, the species is classified as near threatened due to habitat loss and disease.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Carnivore 2
System (Realm)
Terrestrial 2
Relationship to People
Hunted or Fished 3
Living or Extinct
Yes 1
Derived from this species' own Conservation Status: this atlas's IUCN category list has no Extinct value, so a set conservation-status is itself evidence of living status (w-bfill-g5-0924 browse backfill).
Scientific Name
Syncerus caffer 1
Conservation Status
Near Threatened 1
Population Estimate
400,000 1
Global IUCN figure for the species as a whole, described as decreasing.
Identification
Distinguishing Appearance
The African buffalo is a very robust species. Its shoulder height can range from 1.0 to 1.7 m (3 ft 3 in to 5 ft 7 in) and its head-and-body length can range from 1.7 to 3.4 m (5 ft 7 in to 11 ft 2 in). 1
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Artiodactyla, Taxa
Source Catalogue of Life

In Biome

Grassland, Biomes
Source African Buffalo (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. African Buffalo (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Lead section, opening clause naming the binomial
    The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a large species of true buffalo native to Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Conservation status paragraph, opening sentence
    The African buffalo is categorized as "Near Threatened" by the IUCN, with a decreasing population of 400,000 individuals.
  • Description section, opening two sentences
    The African buffalo is a very robust species. Its shoulder height can range from 1.0 to 1.7 m (3 ft 3 in to 5 ft 7 in) and its head-and-body length can range from 1.7 to 3.4 m (5 ft 7 in to 11 ft 2 in).
  • In Biome: Grassland, Wikipedia intro: "ark, hairy tuft. The species occurs in a variety of habitats, such as woodlands, savannas, forests, grasslands, shrublands and wetlands. It forms herds ranging..."
View the Source
2. Wikipedia: African buffalo
  • system (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
    Four subspecies are currently recognized: the Cape buffalo, West African savanna buffalo, Central African savanna buffalo and African forest buffalo.
  • system (entity description states it plainly, diet)
    African buffalo are considered a keystone species in many African ecosystems, shaping vegetation and providing prey for large carnivores, and while overall numbers remain relatively stable in well-protected areas, the species is classified as near threatened due to habitat loss and disease.
View the Source
3. African buffalo (Wikipedia)
geographic distribution has greatly reduced due to human factors such as poachingView the Source
Wikidata: African Buffalo
Wikidata Q160042, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
Catalogue of Life
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of LifeChild Taxon Of: ArtiodactylaView the Source
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