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Kablooie

(18,571 posts)
Sat Jun 2, 2012, 02:53 AM Jun 2012

When did the American buffalo disappear and become bison? [View all]

I just realized that the American animal that I've always known as the buffalo isn't a buffalo any more. It's a bison.
Buffaloes live in Africa only, I read.

I know they were sometimes referred to as bison but buffalo was the more common term.
Is the American buffalo now an obsolete term?

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It's a taxonomic thing Scootaloo Jun 2012 #1
+ Infinity...because this is the best explanation ever. vaberella Jun 2012 #12
I looked it up. Now I have to look up auroch. rug Jun 2012 #32
That word... Xyzse Jun 2012 #33
Screw it. I'm just going to start referring to Romney as that lare ox-like thing. rug Jun 2012 #34
It's also the scientific name... GoCubsGo Jun 2012 #14
I was amazed when I learned that Europe has their own bison species. Odin2005 Jun 2012 #18
I've seen the European bison at a preserve over there RZM Jun 2012 #19
Well-loved... Sure Scootaloo Jun 2012 #24
Well, water buffalo are native to Asia Art_from_Ark Jun 2012 #2
The buffalo got all politically correct. cthulu2016 Jun 2012 #3
If all that is factual, it's probably the most interesting thing I've ever read on DU Egalitariat Jun 2012 #4
Check this out. A very good read. Monk06 Jun 2012 #7
and also, 1491: New Revelations in America Before Columbus Viva_La_Revolution Jun 2012 #9
They were called buffalo, but were never buffalo... joeybee12 Jun 2012 #5
I still call them buffalo - but I buy bison at the store. Nt xchrom Jun 2012 #6
I've found that elk makes better burgers slackmaster Jun 2012 #11
Agree - elk is very good. I have shop on line xchrom Jun 2012 #15
i made bison\beef mealoaf last week.. delish. dionysus Jun 2012 #31
their still buffalo in SD newfie11 Jun 2012 #8
+1 Go Vols Jun 2012 #40
It happened about the same time the potato famine completely wiped out the species slackmaster Jun 2012 #10
Huh? The potato species has never been threatened with extinction NickB79 Jun 2012 #21
Actually, it was just one species in Ireland Scootaloo Jun 2012 #25
As an avid gardener, thank you for that information NickB79 Jun 2012 #27
Species vs. variety L. Coyote Jun 2012 #38
Yup, Solanum tuberosum is the widespread cultivar species Scootaloo Jun 2012 #42
You've been taken in by one of the most elaborate shams in history slackmaster Jun 2012 #26
We're talking about basically four types of animals in this thread, no? aint_no_life_nowhere Jun 2012 #13
Yes, there are 4 species in this muriel_volestrangler Jun 2012 #29
And the aurochs, which *was* hunted to extinction (nt) Mairead Jun 2012 #41
Don't know. Read a history of my great great aunt's brother in law. He worked in a trading post applegrove Jun 2012 #16
I'm a stickler who gets annoyed when bison are called buffalo. Odin2005 Jun 2012 #17
I am fairly sure that Buffalo is correct whistler162 Jun 2012 #28
It was Manifest Destiny. Hunters, period. daaron Jun 2012 #20
"Give me a home, where the bison roam....." Doesn't have the same ring. nt msanthrope Jun 2012 #22
So, what's all this I hear about bison wings? I didn't know bison had wings .. kwassa Jun 2012 #23
In my area they were originally called Tatanka blockhead Jun 2012 #30
Wait until you hear what happened to the brontosaurus. FSogol Jun 2012 #35
Yes, and to Pluto slackmaster Jun 2012 #36
When did the American buffalo disappear and become bison? Joseph28 Jun 2012 #37
When will the American Republican disappear and become extinct? L. Coyote Jun 2012 #39
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