American bison vs Moose
American bison vs moose
American bison is larger on weight
American bison is 1.5× moose on weight.
An American bison and a moose can be compared on 5 measures. The figures below are typical adult or full-size values, with the larger of the two in bold.
Side by side
| American bison | Moose | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 320–1,270 kg | 200–720 kg |
| Height | 1.5–2 m | 1.4–2.1 m |
| Length | 2.1–3.5 m | 2.4–3.1 m |
| Top speed | 56 km/h | 56 km/h |
| Typical lifespan | 15–25 yr | 15–25 yr |
What the numbers say
- American bison is 1.5× moose on weight.
- American bison and moose are near enough identical on height.
- American bison is somewhat greater than moose on length — about 1.1×.
- American bison and moose are near enough identical on top speed.
- American bison is somewhat greater than moose on typical lifespan — about 1.1×.
Weight compared.
American bison 320–1,270 kg
Moose 200–720 kg
American bison
The heaviest land animal in the Americas; commonly called a buffalo, though true buffalo live in Africa and Asia.
Moose
The largest deer; called elk in Europe, which is a different animal in North America.
This is a comparison of published measurements, nothing more. It describes how two things differ on measures that have been recorded; it does not predict how they would fare against each other in any situation.
Common questions
- Which is bigger, American bison or moose?
- American bison is 1.5× moose on weight. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.
- How do American bison and moose compare on height?
- American bison: 1.5–2 m. Moose: 1.4–2.1 m. American bison and moose are near enough identical on height.
- How do American bison and moose compare on length?
- American bison: 2.1–3.5 m. Moose: 2.4–3.1 m. American bison is somewhat greater than moose on length — about 1.1×.
Related pages
Sources
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Smithsonian Institution