The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a large sub-Saharan African bovine. There are five subspecies that are recognized as valid by most authorities:
Syncerus caffer caffer, the Cape buffalo, is the nominotypical subspecies, as well as the largest, found in Southern and East Africa.
S. c. nanus, the forest buffalo, is the smallest subspecies, common in forest areas of Central and West Africa
S. c. brachyceros, the Sudan buffalo, a smaller version of the Cape buffalo, found in the drier, northern areas of Central and West Africa.
S. c. aequinoctialis, the Nile Buffalo, sometimes considered identical to the Sudan buffalo, found in the drier, northern areas of East and Central Africa.
S. c. mathewsi, the mountain buffalo, a disputed subspecies from the Virunga Mountains in Central Africa.
The adult African buffalo's horns are its characteristic feature: they have fused bases, forming a continuous bone shield across the top of the head, referred to as a "boss".
