{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "bison",
  "name": "American Bison",
  "scientificName": "Bison bison",
  "category": "Mammal",
  "summary": "The American bison is North America's largest land mammal, with big bulls weighing up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) and standing nearly 2 m (6 ft) at the shoulder. Once numbering in the tens of millions across the Great Plains, bison were hunted nearly to extinction in the 1800s and now live mostly in parks and reserves. They are grazing herbivores that roam grasslands in herds and can run up to 55 km/h (35 mph). Wild bison typically live 15 to 20 years.",
  "conservationStatus": "Near Threatened",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Mammalia",
    "order": "Artiodactyla",
    "family": "Bovidae",
    "genus": "Bison"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 1000,
    "lengthM": 3,
    "topSpeedKmh": 55,
    "lifespanYears": 18
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Bison bison"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Herbivore (grazer)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Grasslands, plains, and prairies"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "15–20 years in the wild"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "450–1,000 kg (1,000–2,200 lb)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to 55 km/h (35 mph)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Near Threatened (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Grasslands and plains of North America, now mostly in parks and reserves.",
    "continents": [
      "North America"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Bison bison.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Bison%20bison&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Bison bison. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Bison_bison/"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Wikipedia — American Bison.",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_bison"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/bison/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/bison/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}