Bison

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/bison

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Bison bison (American bison), Bison bonasus (European bison)
2. What is the habitat?North American prairies, grasslands, open woodlands, and boreal forests; European temperate forests
3. Why are bison called buffalo in North America?People used the name "buffalo" for them, but they are not the same as the African or Asian buffalo. Bison are only distantly related to those animals.
4. Where do American and European bison live?American bison mainly live on the Great Plains and some in forested areas, while European bison live in forests of Europe and the Caucasus.

Genus Bison: A group of large bovines that includes the American and European bison.
Obligate Herbivore: An animal that must eat plants to survive and cannot digest meat.
Ecosystem Engineers: Organisms that create, maintain, or alter habitats, significantly influencing other species.
IUCN Red List: A global list that assesses the conservation status of species and their risk of extinction.