African Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
- Near threatened
- Card rarity: Uncommon
- Mammals
The African buffalo is a large bovid native to sub-Saharan Africa. First described in 1779 by Swedish naturalist Anders Sparrman, it is the only extant species of the genus Syncerus. Four subspecies are currently recognized: the Cape buffalo, West African savanna buffalo, Central African savanna buffalo, and African forest buffalo. It is a heavily built animal with a broad head and torso, a strong neck, large horns, and a bony plate or "boss" between the horns of males. The fur ranges in color from rusty to black, and the tail ends with a dark, hairy tuft.
Classification
- Class
- Mammalia
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Bovidae
- Genus
- Syncerus