Species: Bos bison
American Bison
Species
Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Craniata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Artiodactyla
Family
Bovidae
Genus
Bos
NatureServe
Classification
Other Global Common Names
Bison - bison
Informal Taxonomy
Animals, Vertebrates - Mammals - Other Mammals
Formal Taxonomy
Animalia - Craniata - Mammalia - Artiodactyla - Bovidae - Bos - See Georgiadis et al. (1991) for a phylogeny of the Bovidae based on allozyme divergence among 27 species. See Kraus and Miyamoto (1991) for a phylogenetic analysis of pecoran ruminants (Cervidae, Bovidae, Moschidae, Antilocapridae, and Giraffidae) based on mitochondrial DNA data.
Ecology and Life History
Short General Description
).
Migration
false - false - true - Previously made mass migrations across prairie in spring and fall. Probably moved southward a few hundred miles to winter pastures. Mountain popualtions moved to lower elevations in valleys. Movements of U.S. populations now are restricted to parks and vicinity.
Non-migrant
false
Locally Migrant
false
Food Comments
Primarily a grazer. Feeds on grasses, forbs, and sedges. See GHABCOM.
Reproduction Comments
Most cows breed at 2-4 years; males usually mature at 3 years, but most breeding done by older (6+ years) males. Most mating July-August. Gestation lasts about 9.5 months. Normally 1 calf, is born mainly mid-April to early June (as early as March in Oklahoma, sometimes as late as summer or early fall in South Dakota). Most calves are weaned by late fall or end of first year, remain with mother until spring or later if she does not conceive. Life span 18-22 years.
Ecology Comments
Gregarious. Often forms herds of 11 - 12 animals. Cows and young remain in herds throughout the year. Bulls solitary or in small groups until summer when they begin to mix with cow-calf herds. Home range in Northwest Territories averaged several hundred sq km (Larter and Gates 1990). May live up to about 20 years.
Length
380
Weight
907000
Conservation Status
NatureServe Global Status Rank
G4
Global Status Last Reviewed
1996-11-19
Global Status Last Changed
1996-11-19
Distribution
Conservation Status Map
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Global Range
FG - 20,000-2,500,000 square km (about 8000-1,000,000 square miles) - FG - Formerly widespread in North America from Alaska and western Canada across U.S. into northern Mexico. Currently found in isolated units throughout and external to historical range.
Global Range Code
FG
Global Range Description
20,000-2,500,000 square km (about 8000-1,000,000 square miles)