European water buffalo (SciiFii)

The European water buffalo (Bubalus murrensis) is a species of large bovine that originally lived in Europe during the Pleistocene and was once extinct, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and reintroduced to the modern swamps, forests, and open woodlands of Europe to help boost biodiversity. Its closest relatives are the wild water buffalo ((Bubalus arnee), the tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis), the lowland anoa (Bubalus depressicornis), the mountain anoa (Bubalus quarlesi) and the domestic water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). The morphology of the European water buffalo is very similar to other Bubalus species like the Wild Asian water buffalo. Only the skull differs from other bovines, especially the triangular horns. The skull of the European water buffalo has a width of 107 cm. Its head-to-body-length is 240 to 300 cm (94 to 118 in) with a 60 to 100 cm (24 to 39 in) long tail and a shoulder height of 150 to 190 cm (59 to 75 in). It is larger and heavier than the domestic water buffalo, and weighs from 600 to 1,200 kg (1,300 to 2,600 lb). The heaviest captive European water buffaloes can weigh about 900 kg (2,000 lb). European water buffaloes are both diurnal and nocturnal. Adult females and their young form stable clans of as many as 30 individuals which have home ranges of 170 to 1,000 ha (0.66 to 3.86 sq mi), including areas for resting, grazing, wallowing, and drinking. Clans are led by old cows, even when bulls accompany the group. Several clans form a herd of 30 to 500 animals that gather at resting areas. Adult males form bachelor groups of up to 10 individuals, with older males often being solitary, and spend the dry season apart from the female clans. They are seasonal breeders in most of their range, typically in October and November. However, some populations breed year round. Dominant males mate with the females of a clan who subsequently drive them off. Their gestation period is 10 to 11 months, with an inter-birth interval of one year. They typically give birth to a single offspring, although twins are possible. Age at sexual maturity is 18 months for males, and three years for females. The maximum known lifespan is 25 years in the wild. In the wild, the herd size varies from three to 30 individuals. They are grazers by preference, feeding mainly on graminoids when available, such as Bermuda grass, and Cyperus sedges, but they also eat other herbs, fruits, and bark, as well as browsing on trees and shrubs. They also feed on crops, including rice, sugarcane, and jute, sometimes causing considerable damage. Tigers, cave lions, and other large predators prey on adult wild water buffaloes, and European black bears have also been known to kill them. The conservation status of the European water buffalo is Vulnerable due to some habitat loss and historic poaching, however, they are protected along with their natural habitats.