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779 Featured Specimen
Anoa

Details

Anoa

Bubalus depressicornis

Size
1.5–2 m · 150–300 kg
Diet
Herbivore
Activity
Cathemeral
Sociality
Solitary
Lifespan

A small wild buffalo endemic to Sulawesi. Short horns, a dark body, and secretive forest habits distinguish it.

Range

Habitat range map
Native range Occasional / Transient
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Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Details

Habitat

Anoa inhabit lowland forest, moist forest, montane forest, and riparian woodland. Dense vegetation, water, and wallowing sites are important.

Appearance

They have a dark brown to black body, short straight horns, and pale markings on the legs. The compact build suits forest movement.

Behavior

They are mostly solitary and often active in dim parts of the day. Wallowing and water use are common, and they are wary in dense forest.

Feeding

They browse and graze on grasses, leaves, shoots, aquatic plants, and fruit. Feeding links forest understory with more open wet places.

Reproduction

Females usually bear a single calf. Calves remain near the mother and use dense forest cover for protection.

Notes

Hunting and forest loss threaten the species, making it a key symbol of Sulawesi mammal conservation.