Bison Temporal range: Pleistocene – Recent
Early | |
---|---|
American bison (Bison bison) | |
European bison (Bison bonasus) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Artiodactyla |
Family: | Bovidae |
Subfamily: | Bovinae |
Subtribe: | Bovina |
Genus: | Bison Hamilton Smith, 1827 |
Species | |
B. bison |
Bisons are large, even-toed ungulates. They are bovines, and are similar to cows. They are often called buffalo, but are not closely related to the African buffalo or water buffalo.
Bison live in the northern part of the world. The American bison lives in North America where they once wandered around the prairies in huge herds. The wisent lives in Europe. Bison can also live in rugged areas.