Water Buffalo Bubalus bubalis/ Bubalus arnee

Most Asian Water Buffalo are domesticated and have been for hundreds of years, so have their own species - Bubalus bubalis (below) - but some of their wild cousins remain in northeast India and southeast Asia and are given a separate species Bubalus arnee or a subspecies Bubalus bubalis arnee (above). The wild African/Cape Buffalo is a different genus.

Domestic Water Buffalo immediately above and wild Water Buffalo on top row.

The wild Water Buffalo (above) look similar to the domestic but are significantly larger, the second or third largest wild cattle after the Asian Gaur and, possibly, the wild Yak, and about a third larger than their domestic counterparts (below) at some 6 foot shoulder height. They also have white socks like the wild Gaur and Banteng. They love being half-submerged in water on a hot day.

Sometimes their white socks are hidden by mud. Both male and female Water Buffalo have large horns.

Immediately above are domestic Water Buffalo for comparison.