What is the State Animal of Kansas?

What is the State Animal of Kansas?

American Bison or American buffalo is the official state animal of Kansas. The bison was entitled as Kansas’s state animal in 1955. The scientific name of the state animal of Kansas is Bison bison. The American buffalo, also known as bison, has always held great meaning for American Indian people. Buffalo represents their spirit and reminds them of how their lives were once lived, free and in harmony with nature. The “American buffalo”, Bison bison, was adopted as Kansas’ state animal on March 28, 1955.

State animal of Kansas Facts—

  • Common Name: Bison or American bison or American buffalo
  • Scientific Name: Bison bison
  • Color: Dark-brown winter coat, and a lighter-weight, lighter-brown summer coat
  • Height: Head-and-body lengths range from 2 to 3.5 m (6.6 to 11.5 ft) long, the tail adding 30 to 91 cm (12 to 36 in)
  • Weight: 800 to 2000 pounds
  • Diet: Grass, sagebrush
  • Cubs: 1 calf per season
  • Major strength: Powerful neck and upper body strength
  • Lifespan: 1-20 years

Kansas’s state animal, bison, is a giant animal that weighs from 800 to 2,000 pounds and stands nearly six feet high at the shoulder. A big head, high hump on the shoulders and dark brown shaggy hair characterize the buffalo. Bison are part of the family Bovidae It is the family to which cattle and goats belong. They are not in the same family that Asian and African buffalo are.

However, because they resembled these old world animals, the early explorers called them by that name. The hump, along with a broad, massive head, short, thick neck and small hindquarters give the animal its rugged appearance. Bison are year-round grazers. They feed mostly on grasses, but when food is scarce, they will eat vegetation such as sagebrush. On the average, bison ingest 1.6% of their body mass per day of dry plants. Bison require water every day as well.

Reference:

https://statesymbolsusa.org
https://americanexpedition.us
http://www.ereferencedesk.com

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