American bison
(Bos bison)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | NT - Near Threatened |
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| NatureServe | N4 - Apparently Secure SX - Presumed Extirpated |
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| Minnesota | not listed |
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Description |
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Scientific Name: The American Bison The scientific name of the American Bison is currently a subject of taxonomic revision. While Bison bison is the name used in most historical literature and remains the common designation across the globe, MinnesotaSeasons.com follows the classification of the Mammal Diversity Database (MDD), maintained by the American Society of Mammalogists (ASM). The MDD currently lists the species as Bos bison. This change is based on modern genetic (DNA) and cladistic analysis, which shows that the genus Bison is phylogenetically embedded within the genus Bos (the genus that includes domestic cattle). To maintain the strict principle of monophyly in classification, the species was formally moved to the genus Bos." |
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Size |
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Total height: 5′ to 6′ Total length: 10′ to 12′ Weight: 800 to 2,000 lbs. |
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Sign |
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Similar Species |
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| No similar species | ||
Habitat |
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Historically: grasslands, meadows, woodlands, and woodland openings. Currently: none, considered extirpated in the wild |
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Biology |
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Behavior |
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Lifespan |
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15 years in the wild, 25 years in captivity |
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Life Cycle |
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Food |
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Grasses |
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Distribution |
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Occurrence |
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Reintroduced. Captive herds. |
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Taxonomy |
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| Class | Mammalia (mammals) | ||
| Subclass | Theria | ||
| Infraclass | Placentalia (placental mammals) | ||
| Magnorder | Boreoeutheria | ||
| Superorder | Laurasiatheria (ungulates, carnivorans, and allies) | ||
| Order | Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates and cetaceans) | ||
| Suborder | Ruminantia (ruminants) | ||
| Infraorder | Pecora | ||
| Superfamily | Bovoidea | ||
Family |
Bovidae (bovids) | ||
Subfamily |
Bovinae (bovines) | ||
| Tribe | Bovini (cattle and bison) | ||
Genus |
Bos (bison) | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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plains bison (Bos bison bison) Wood bison (Bos bison athabascae) |
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Synonyms |
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Bison americanus Bison americanus pennsylvanicus Bison bison Bison bison septemtrionalis Bison sylvestris Bisons bison |
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Common Names |
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American bison bison |
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Visitor Photos |
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Share your photo of this mammal. |
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| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption. |
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Wayne Rasmussen |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
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| Bison DianesDigitals |
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About
Copyright DianesDigitals |
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| Bison bison (Buffalo) Allen Chartier |
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| Bison jt893x |
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| Bison Craig A. Mullenbach |
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About
Bison, aka Buffalo, in various national and state parks |
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Slideshows |
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| Bison DianesDigitals |
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About
Copyright DianesDigitals |
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| Bison bison (Buffalo) Allen Chartier |
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| Bison jt893x |
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| Bison Craig A. Mullenbach |
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About
Bison, aka Buffalo, in various national and state parks |
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Visitor Videos |
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Share your video of this mammal. |
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| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link. |
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Other Videos |
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| Finding Minnesota: Minneopa Bison At Minnesota State Park WCCO - CBS Minnesota |
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About
Published on Jan 10, 2016 When our ancestors first came to this land, it's estimated that between 30 and 60 million bison were roaming North America. There's now an effort by the DNR and others to bring the animals back, John Lauritsen reports. WCCO 4 News Weekends - Jan. 10, 2016 |
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| Bringing Home the Bison – Minneopa State Park MinnesotaDNR |
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About
Published on Sep 29, 2015 Eleven genetically rare bison are reintroduced to Minneopa State Park. A joint effort between the DNR and the Minnesota Zoo. |
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| Bison Release, Belwin Conservancy, June 15, 2013, Lakeland, MN call0031 |
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About
Published on Jun 16, 2013 Bison Release, Belwin Conservancy, June 15, 2013, Lakeland, MN. Video by Kevin Callahan. |
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| New bison calves, at Blue Mounds State Park! MinnesotaDNR |
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About
Published on May 15, 2012 New bison calves have been born on the Minnesota prairie at Blue Mounds State Park. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/blue_mounds |
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| Minnesota Zoo Welcomes Two Bison Calves as Part of Partnership with DNR Minnesota Zoo |
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About
Published on May 16, 2013 The Minnesota Zoo is excited to welcome two genetically-pure bison calves, important births signifying the progress of a partnership with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in an effort to conserve the North American plains bison. They are the first bison calves born at the Zoo in 20 years. |
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Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this mammal. |
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| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
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| Wayne Rasmussen 7/21/2008 |
Location: Oxbow Co Park & Zoo, Olmstead County |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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