Species group · Mammals
Bison
WAnimals has 2 species of bison, all in the family Bovidae.
- 2 species
- 1 family
- 17 countries
- 9 parks
- Weight
- 300 kg – 1 t
- Length
- 2.1 m – 3.8 m
- Lifespan
- 20 – 24 years
Ranges calculated from the entries that record the figure, not from all 2.
All 2 species of bison on WAnimals
Each one has its own full entry. This group does not replace them: it brings them together.
Conservation status
No species documented in this group is genuinely at risk according to the IUCN, with the data available today.
See the global conservation statusWhere they live
Recorded in 17 countries. The ones with the most species in the group:
Where to see them
Did you know…
It can run at over 55 km/h despite weighing a tonne.
From American Bison
There were once over 30 million of them, before European colonisation.
From American Bison
It is the national mammal of the United States.
From American Bison
The entire species descends from twelve animals: the genetic bottleneck is so extreme that genetic diversity remains one of the main concerns in its conservation.
From European Bison
Unlike the American bison, which grazes grass on open plains, the European one is a woodland animal that also browses leaves, shoots and bark.
From European Bison