European Bison vs. American Bison: 4 Key Differences Explained

Bison are large herbivorous mammals that are native to places such as North America and parts of Europe, where they live predominantly in grasslands.  They live in herds and are characterized by their large, heavy bodies, humped shoulders, small horns, and unpredictable natures.  There are two species of bison — European and American — and they are incredibly similar to each other.  However, despite their similarities, there are quite a lot of differences between them, with some more subtle than others.  So join us as we discover all of the key differences between European bison and American bison.

Comparing American Bison vs European Bison

European bison (Bison bonasus) are the largest and heaviest land mammals in Europe.  There were formerly three subspecies, although only one (Bison bonasus bonasus) remains – the other two are now extinct.

American bison (Bison bison) are the heaviest and longest animals in North America, but the second tallest after moose.  There are two subspecies of American bison – plains bison and wood bison.  Wood bison are generally the larger of the two and have a larger, more square hump.  However, getting back to the differences between American and European bison, there are some significant differences between them that make it easier to tell the two apart.

The 4 Key Differences Between European Bison and American Bison

The key differences between European and American bison include size, appearance, bone structure, and horns. American bison are generally larger and have an appearance that’s geared toward grazing, while European bison browse. Also, the two species of bison have different numbers of ribs and lumbar vertebrae. Let’s dig into the main differences in more detail below.

Size

One of the main differences between European and American bison is their size difference. However, they are quite unique as American bison are the heavier of the two, while European bison are the taller of the two. American bison weigh between 700 and 2,180 pounds, with the males being heavier than females. They stand between 6 ft, 1 in and 6 ft, 7 in. European bison weigh between 935 and 2,030 pounds, again with the males being the heaviest. Their height ranges between 5 ft, 9 in and 6 ft, 9 in at the shoulder. The reason European bison tend to be taller than their American counterparts is that they have longer legs.

Appearance

There are several differences in the appearance and stance of European and American bison that set them apart.  For a start, American bison have a much hairier body than European bison, but their tail is less hairy.  The shape of their faces is different, too, as the nose of American bison sits further back than the forehead when the head is in a neutral position.  The opposite is true for European bison, whose nose is further forward than their forehead.

European and American bison also hold their heads differently, and this has an effect on their diet.  European bison naturally hold their head and neck higher than American bison, and they are browsers rather than grazers.  On the other hand, American bison hold their head and neck lower than European bison.  This suits their diet as they are grazers rather than browsers.

Horns

Another distinctive difference between American and European bison is their horns.  The horns of the European bison point more forward than those of the American bison, which point more sideways and upwards.  The way that their horns point aids them in their favored method of fighting.  European bison generally fight by locking horns, and their forward-pointing horns favor this.  However, American bison prefer to fight by butting and charging.

Bones

Although there’s no visual difference between the two, European and American bison have different numbers of ribs and lumbar vertebrae.  American bison have fifteen pairs of ribs, while European bison only have fourteen.  Additionally, European bison have five lumbar vertebrae, while American bison only have four.  In the case of the lumbar vertebrae, this difference is because in the American bison, the first lumbar vertebrae have ribs attached to them.  This means that it is counted as an extrathoracic vertebra instead of a lumbar vertebra.