Bubalus depressicornis
A small buffalo relative from Sulawesi and Buton. Forest life, water sources, and hunting pressures are central to the anoa’s conservation story.
PANDUANHEWAN · INDONESIA
Lowland anoa vs Mountain anoa: the differences
How do the Lowland anoa (Bubalus depressicornis) and Mountain anoa (Bubalus quarlesi) differ? Classification, features, range, diet, size, IUCN status and legal protection, from cited sources.
The lowland anoa (Bubalus depressicornis) and the mountain anoa (Bubalus quarlesi) are different species in the same genus, Bubalus. Range in Indonesia — the lowland anoa: Sulawesi and Buton; the mountain anoa: Sulawesi and Buton Island.
Bubalus quarlesi
The mountain anoa (Bubalus quarlesi) is a dwarf wild buffalo endemic to Sulawesi and Buton, smaller and shaggier than the lowland anoa.
Lowland anoa and Mountain anoa compared
| Aspect | Lowland anoa | Mountain anoa |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Bubalus depressicornis | Bubalus quarlesi |
| Indonesian name | Anoa dataran rendah | Anoa pegunungan |
| Class | Mammalia | Mammalia |
| Order | Artiodactyla | Artiodactyla |
| Family | Bovidae | Bovidae |
| Range in Indonesia | Sulawesi and Buton | Sulawesi and Buton Island |
| Endemic to Indonesia | Yes | Yes |
| Key features | — | Smaller and more densely haired than the lowland anoa |
| Size | Body size: Anoa are the smallest wild cattle; 150–300 kg, head-body length 1.22–1.88 m | — |
| Diet | Varied plant material | Grasses and other forest vegetation |
| Diet type | herbivore (plant-eater) | herbivore (plant-eater) |
| Reproduction | giving birth to live young (viviparous) | giving birth to live young (viviparous) |
| IUCN status | Endangered | Endangered |
| Legal protection | Protected (Regulation P.106/2018) | Protected (Regulation P.106/2018) |
Every cell comes from the sourced data on each animal’s page; an empty cell means the data is not yet available, not that it is absent.
How to tell them apart
- Mountain anoa: Smaller and more densely haired than the lowland anoa.
Sources
- IUCN SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group — Anoa ↗
- Japan Ministry of the Environment ESABII — Lowland anoa ↗
- Action Indonesia — Species management programmes ↗
- JDIH Kementerian Kehutanan — Permen LHK P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa yang Dilindungi (PDF, dengan lampiran) ↗
- Animal Diversity Web ↗
- Animal Diversity Web ↗
- IUCN Red List ↗
- Handbook of the Mammals of the World, Vol. 2 Hoofed Mammals (Wilson & Mittermeier eds., Lynx Edicions 2011), Bovidae: Bubalus depressicornis (Anoa, incl. Mountain Anoa quarlesi) account (Plazi treatment) ↗
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (GBIF) ↗
- ESABII Threatened Mammal Species Database (Biodiversity Center of Japan) — Bubalus quarlesi ↗
- Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan) — Bubalus quarlesi, mountain anoa ↗
- Evolutionary Systematics (Priyono et al. 2024) — Biogeographic history of the endangered dwarf buffalo, subgenus Anoa ↗
- IUCN Red List ↗
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