Pets and Animals World

Buffaloes are wild or domesticated oxen native to Asia and Africa. Like domestic cattle and some other artiodactyl mammals, buffaloes are cud-chewing and have cloven hooves and permanent horns, but they are much larger and more powerful than cattle. The so-called American buffalo are more properly called bison. The water buffalo has short, stiff, scanty hair, and a large portion of the hide is bare and glossy. In the wild, the water buffalo is dangerous if aroused. The animal has been domesticated, however, and has been used as a draft animal since ancient times.