There are thought to be two subspecies: the savannah type and the forest type. Wild water buffalo of Asia has been declared as endangered species. Breeds. The savannah type weighs between 1,000 and 2,000 pounds and is black or dark brown with closed crescent horns. This buffalo prefers a habitat with dense cover, such as reeds and thickets, but can also be found in open woodland.

The African buffalo is one of the most successful grazers in Africa. On the other hand, domestic water buffalo is further divided into two types based on differences in physical characteristics: river buffalo and swamp buffalo. The domestic water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is descended from the wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee), now designated an endangered species.Water buffaloes have been bred, predominantly in Asia, for thousands of years for use by humans.Their main domestic uses are as draught animals and for the production of milk and meat.Two types are recognized, the river-type and the swamp-type. Ecology. The cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is sometimes also known as the African buffalo, because it can be found all over sub-Saharan Africa. It lives in swamps and floodplains, as well as mopane grasslands, and the forests of the major mountains of Africa. Water buffalo is found in Asia and is classified as wild water buffalo and domestic water buffalo.