A feral water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) soaks in the Bekol Savannah at dusk.

Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) — Buffalo in Baluran National Park at dusk.

Creator: [Candra Firmansyah](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Candra_Firmansyah). CC BY-SA 4.0. [CC BY-SA 4.0 deed](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en).

Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0

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Species record

Water Buffalo

Bubalus bubalis

Explore the Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) species record in The Ark Is Earth, including classification, habitat, distribution, conservation information, and sources.

Summary

The Water Buffalo is a domesticated bovine that originated in Asia and is raised mainly on small farms there, with smaller populations elsewhere. Buffaloes provide milk and draft power, especially in rice production, and are closely associated with wet grasslands and water.

Classification in this archive

  1. Kingdom: Animals
  2. Phylum: Chordates
  3. Subphylum: Vertebrates
  4. Class: Mammals
  5. Order: Even-toed ungulates
  6. Family: Cattle, antelopes and relatives
  7. Genus: Bubalus

Habitat and distribution

Selected documented locations — not a complete species range.

Habitat
rice paddies, wet grasslands, farms
Selected regions
Asia, Europe
Selected countries
India, China, Vietnam, Italy

Conservation status

The Ark records: Domesticated.

Did you know?

  • Wallowing in mud helps water buffalo cool down.
  • A coating of mud can also help protect their skin from biting insects.

More images

Two water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) bathing together in a pond at sunset.

Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) — Two buffaloes bathing at sunset.

Creator: [Basile Morin](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Basile_Morin). CC BY-SA 4.0. [CC BY-SA 4.0 deed](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en).

Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0

View image source

Sources and attribution