Animal Profiles
Mammals

Water Buffalo

Bubalus bubalis

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

The domestic water buffalo is a large Asian bovid now kept in many countries. It grazes vegetation and uses water or mud to cool itself.

Bubalus bubalis (water buffalo)

Alexander Vasenin · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Location
Domestic water buffalo are associated with Asian farming and have been introduced elsewhere. Wet grasslands, waterways and managed fields provide food and wallowing sites.
Habitat
Wetlands, Grassland, Rivers and lakes
Diet
Herbivore
Food
Grasses, herbs, aquatic plants and other vegetation are grazed.

Classification

Common name
Water Buffalo
Browse group
Mammals
Scientific name or taxon
Bubalus bubalis
Taxon rank
species
Order
Artiodactyla
Family
Bovidae
Genus
Bubalus
Source classification
Mammalia

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • Mud wallowing helps it cool down.
  • Its broad hooves spread on soft ground.
  • Domestic and wild buffalo should not be conflated.

Habitat and range

Domestic water buffalo are associated with Asian farming and have been introduced elsewhere. Wet grasslands, waterways and managed fields provide food and wallowing sites.

Appearance and adaptations

A heavy body, sparse hair and broad hooves distinguish this buffalo. Horns arise separately on the head, unlike the joined bases of some African buffalo.

Diet and behaviour

Grasses, herbs, aquatic plants and other vegetation are grazed. These social grazers use feeding, drinking and resting areas. The source combines wild and domestic accounts, so its wild measurements are not applied to domestic animals.

Sources

Explore mammals

Browse all mammals