Bubalus bubalus

Description

Water Buffalos are formidable mammals with sparse gray-black coats. Males carry enormous backward-curving, crescent-shaped horns stretching close to 1.5 metres long with deep ridges on their surface. Females are smaller in size and weight, but they also have horns, although they are proportionately smaller.

Distribution

The Water Buffalo is thought to have originated in Asia but has since been introduced to Australia, Africa, Europe and North America.

Lifespan

The lifespan of the Water Buffalo is 20 - 25 years.

Size

The Water Buffalo weighs between 700 - 1,200 kgs.

Diet

The Water Buffalo is herbivorous, therefore having a purely vegetarian diet. The Water Buffalo munch on aquatic plants when they are in water but Water Buffalo seem to prefer to leave the water to find grassland where the Water Buffalo can graze on grasses, leaves and herbs.

Habitat

The Water Buffalo inhabits swamps, floodplains, grasslands and forests.

Breeding

Females Water Buffalos normally produce calves every other year, after a gestation of 9 to 11 months. Young bulls typically remain with maternal herds, which consist of around 30 buffalos, for three years after birth. They then go on to form small all-male herds.

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