What kind of animal is a bison (American bison, European bison)? We will explain its characteristics, ecology, habitat, and lifespan. When it comes to bison, the most famous are the European bison and the American bison. However, in America, it was on the verge of extinction. I will also explain the background.
What is a bison? About basic status
Bison is an animal classified into the genus Bison in the order Bovidae (artiodactyla) and family Bovidae. It is a medium-sized animal with a body length of 250-350 cm and a weight of 650-1,350 kg. As I will introduce below, there are many subspecies, and they are divided into many classifications. They have a large head and well-developed shoulder muscles to support it.
| Japanese（和名） | バイソン |
| English（英名） | Bison |
| scientific name(学名) | Bison |
| classification（分類） | Mammalia、Artiodactyla、Bovidae、Bison 哺乳綱、ウシ目（偶蹄目）、ウシ科、バイソン属 |
| IUCN Status(保全状況) | VULNERABLE |
| Height（身長） | 250-350cm |
| Weight（体重） | 650-1,350㎏ |
Extant species are roughly divided into two types.
Extant species are divided into two main species: the European bison and the American bison. As for the American bison, it was once on the brink of extinction, but it has recovered.
| Name：名前 | academic name （学名） | Habit （生息地） |
| European bison ヨーロッパバイソン | Bison bonasus | Europe ヨーロッパ |
| American bison アメリカバイソン | Bison bison | North America 北アメリカ |
About bison habitat
Bison are distributed in Europe and North America.
feature is? What kind of creature is it?
Bison is a member of the cow family and has slightly elongated horns. The hair on the upper body, including the head, is short and the ears are visible. Bison live in grasslands, forests, and steppes, and do not live alone but form large herds. Their muscles are more developed than other animals.
What will your personality look like?
Male bison occasionally tend to live alone, but when viewed as a whole, they are clearly highly social and behave in groups, forming herds. This formation allows them to protect themselves from predators.
What is the ecology of bison?
Bison are herbivores, eating grass, leaves, buds, twigs, and bark. The breeding pattern is viviparous, giving birth to one calf from June to September. The gestation period is 285 days, and males reach sexual maturity at 3 years of age, while females reach sexual maturity at 2 to 3 years of age. The lifespan is estimated to be 18 to 22 years.
What are the natural enemies of bison?
Bison are large animals and live in groups, so they are difficult to prey on, but weaker individuals are preyed on by mountain lions, brown bears, and other animals.
Difference between bison and buffalo
By the way, some people don’t know the difference between bison and buffalo. Buffalo often refers to water buffalo that live in Asia and Africa. Bison, on the other hand, refers to those living in North America and Europe. Bison can be easily distinguished from buffalo because they have much longer fur. You can tell by the length of your hair.
Are bison an endangered species?
Bison are not an endangered species. The Japanese bison, a subspecies of the American bison, is an endangered species, but other species are stable. In fact, American bison were on the verge of extinction.
American history is involved
Originally, the United States was inhabited by indigenous tribes who used bison for events and other purposes, and they were never overhunted. However, after the white people forced the Indians to move to reservations, they overhunted the bison. Although their numbers were reduced to a few hundred, they managed to avoid extinction by introducing European bison in time.
Shinrin bison is in a pinch
Bison bison (scientific name: Bison bison athabasca) is at risk of extinction in Canada and the United States. The largest herd totals only about 2,500 individuals. According to 2014 information, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has authorized the reintroduction of “non-essential experimental” populations of spiny bison to three areas in Alaska where programs to protect them are in place. . It is managed in general national parks and protected areas, and its population is expected to increase. I’m looking forward to the future of the United States.
Can bison be kept?
As explained above, bison are very large animals. Therefore, breeding them is extremely difficult. I have to say that it is difficult because it requires a considerable amount of space.
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