Anoa de Ilanura, Anoa des plaines, Bubalus , Anoa, Dwarf buffalo, Mountain anoa
Anoa, also known as dwarf buffalo and sapiutan, is a subgenus of Bubalus comprising two species endemic to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia: the mountain anoa (Bubalus quarlesi ) and the lowland anoa (Bubalus depressicornis ). Both live in undisturbed rainforest and are similar in appearance to miniature water buffaloes, weighing 150–300 kg (330–660 lb).
Both species of anoa have been classified as endangered since the 1960s and the populations continue to decrease. Fewer than 5,000 animals of each species likely remain. Reasons for their decline include hunting for hides, horns and meat by the local peoples and loss of habitat due to the advancement of settlement. Currently, hunting is the more serious factor in most areas.
Anoa are most closely allied to the larger Asian buffaloes, showing the same reversal of the direction of the hair on their backs. The horns are peculiar for their upright direction and comparative straightness, although they have the same triangular section as in other buffaloes. White spots are sometimes present below the eyes and there may be white markings on the legs and back; the absence or presence of these white markings may be indicative of distinct races. The horns of the cows are very small. The nearest allies of the anoa appear to be certain extinct Asian buffaloes, the remains of which have been found in the Siwalik Hills of northern India.
Both are found on the island of Sulawesi and the nearby island of Buton in Indonesia. They apparently live singly or in pairs, rather than in herds like most cattle, except when the cows are about to give birth. Little is known about their life history as well. However, in captive individuals they have a life expectancy of 20–30 years. The anoa take two to three years before they reach sexual maturity and have one calf a year and have very rarely been seen to have more.
Skulls of anoa cannot be accurately identified as to species, and there is likely hybridizing and interbreeding between the two in the zoo population. It is questioned as to whether the two species were actually different due to them occurring together in many different areas, as well as some interbreeding. A study of the mtDNA of ten specimens from different localities found a high mitochondrial genetic diversity between individuals identified as one or the other species, indicating support for recognition as two species.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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GraminivoreIn zoology, a graminivore (not to be confused with a granivore) is an herbivorous animal that feeds primarily on grass. Graminivory is a form of g...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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GrazingGrazing is a method of feeding in which a herbivore feeds on plants such as grasses, or other multicellular organisms such as algae. In agriculture...
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BrowsingBrowsing is a type of herbivory in which an herbivore (or, more narrowly defined, a folivore) feeds on leaves, soft shoots, or fruits of high-growi...
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Generally solitaryGenerally solitary animals are those animals that spend their time separately but will gather at foraging areas or sleep in the same location or sh...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withThe Lowland anoa is a small bovid found in Southeast Asia. These animals have thick, black skin covered with short, dark brown hair. Males are usually darker in color than females. White spots are sometimes present below the eyes and there may be white markings on the legs and back. Both males and females have horns that are short, triangular and are flattened closer to the top.
Lowland anoas are native to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. They live in lowland moist forests and wetlands. Anoas prefer to stay in core forested habitat away from humans.
Lowland anoas are usually solitary. They are active in the morning and afternoon and prefer to rest in shade during hot parts of the day. Like other wild buffalo, anoas like to wallow in mud and water. They usually move by walking but when fleeing, they can make clumsy leaps. When anoas feel any danger or are approached too close, they will turn and attack violently. These animals are known to be very dangerous especially young bulls during the breeding season, and females with young.
Lowland anoas are herbivorous animals. Their diet consists of grasses, aquatic plants, ferns, fallen fruit, palm, and ginger. They also may drink sea water which fulfills their mineral needs in areas without licks or spring water.
Little is known about the mating system in Lowland anoas. These animals breed year-round. Females give birth to a single calf. The gestation period lasts around 9-10 months. Calves are weaned between 6 and 9 months of age and become reproductively mature when they are 2-3 years old.
Main threats to Lowland anoa include hunting for food and the loss of the habitat through logging activities and clearing of forested areas for agriculture. Gold mining and other activities that are related to the collection of non-timber forest products also pose a serious threat to these animals.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of Lowland anoas is less than 2,500 mature individuals. This species’ numbers are decreasing and it is currently classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List.
Due to their diet, Lowland anoas play a very important role in their ecosystem as they control the growth of the forest understory.
