File:Wild water buffalo walking near water - DPLA - 12ff64a7d0b84a79e044d377724bac47.jpg

35 mm slide; color. Scientific Classification: Kingdom: Animalia; Phylum: Chordata; Class: Mammalia; Order: Artiodactyla; Family: Bovidae; Genus: Bubalus; Genus species: Bubalus arnee. Animal characteristics: Head-Body Length: 2.5-3 m; Height: 1.5-1.8 m; Weight: 800-1200 kg; Identification: The hair of the water buffalo is sparse and colored charcoal gray to black, with dirty white lower limbs. The large crescent-shaped horns are slightly upturned; Habitat: Wet grasslands, marshes, pools, wallows, rivers, woodlands; Diet: Herbivore: grasses, aquatic plants, agricultural plants, and leaves; Reproduction: Females breed every two years. A gestation period of 300-340 days produces a single calf, which is weaned at one year of age. Water buffalo can live as long as 18 years; Social Structure: During the breeding season, males gather females into harems. At other times of the year, herds of females and calves remain separate from males' bachelor herds; Behavior: Water buffalo often submerge themselves in water or wallow in mud; Status: Endangered - there are less than 2000 wild animals remaining; Interesting Facts: At 1.2 meters across, the water buffalo has the largest horn span of all bovids. This species was domesticated over 5,000 years ago as beasts of burden.