African buffalo
Syncerus caffer
Key identification features
A very large muscular animal with massive horns which grow sideways from the skull; both sexes have horns. Their tail and ears have tassels and they have a large naked muzzle. The short coat is coloured red (forest ssp) to black (savannas ssp). Sometimes patches of contrasting colour on underside chin, face and legs can be seen. Forest and savannah buffalos look different but are the same species, intermediate types occur. HB 170-340 cm. Wt 250-850 kg.
Habitat and social behaviour
The African buffalo is most active during the evening and morning. During the hottest hours it prefers to rests in shade. It lives in a large variety of habitats including forest, savannahs, thickets, swamps, reed beds, and grassy steppes. In savannahs herds of 20-2000 animals occur in the rainy season and much smaller herds of 2-20 animals in dry season. In forests the African buffalo lives in small family groups of 1 old male and 3-12 females with their young. Males can be solitary or form small bachelor groups.
Similar species
Unmistakable.
Distribution Map
Historical Distribution Map
References for historical distribution map
Photo gallery
