A male buffalo, or bull, weighs about 2,000 pounds, while the female cow generally weighs only about 1,100 pounds. This species is also known as the American bison.
Buffalo are heavy and large. Some males reach lengths of almost 12 1/2 feet. Females are significantly smaller, measuring between 7 and 10 1/2 feet long. The shoulder height of bulls ranges from about 5 1/2 to just over 6 feet. Cows' shoulder height is typically around 5 feet.
Until they were hunted to near extinction, buffalo were found on the plains from Alaska to northern Mexico. In the 21st century, the animals are harbored on protected areas in the western United States and Canada.
