African Buffalo – Syncerus caffer

Syncerus cafferSparrman, 1779

Accepted name, Mammal Species of the World 2005

Ansell (1972:19) compared subspecific systematics of different authors, here modified from Schouteden (1945). The species can be partitioned into the nominate caffer division (including also aequinoctialis) and the nanus division (including also brachyceros); phylogeography indicates similar haplotypes for nanus and cf. brachyceros, which differ from those of nominate caffer (Van Hooft et al., 2002); matthewsi is probably of polyphyletic origin; cottoni is based on a specimen of nominate caffer showing characters reflecting gene flow between caffer and nanus. Bos pegasus C.<b> </b>H. Smith, 1827 has been identified as an African buffalo, but is probably a sheep (Blyth, 1871).

• Wilson, D and Reeder, D. (eds.) 2005. Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. 3rd ed. -- 2142 pp. Johns Hopkins University Press.