HOME | DD

Description
The Steppe Bison/Wisent, Bison priscus! This amazingly successful species originated about 1.8 million years ago from a species in Southeast Asia; it rapidly spread northward into most of northern Eurasia, and about 240 000 years ago made it over the Bering Land Bridge into North America, where it was equally successful. It was one of the Ice Age megafauna, living on grassy steppes just south of the ice sheets. It is portrayed in cave art such as at Lascaux and Altamira, and a few were found preserved in ice, most famously 'Blue Babe' found at Fairbanks, Alaska. This species still lives on in a way; modern American bison are likely direct descendants, while European bison are descended from these that partially hybridized with Aurochs! The 'pure' form of the steppe bison vanished about 9 000 years ago.

Description
The Steppe Bison/Wisent, Bison priscus! This amazingly successful species originated about 1.8 million years ago from a species in Southeast Asia; it rapidly spread northward into most of northern Eurasia, and about 240 000 years ago made it over the Bering Land Bridge into North America, where it was equally successful. It was one of the Ice Age megafauna, living on grassy steppes just south of the ice sheets. It is portrayed in cave art such as at Lascaux and Altamira, and a few were found preserved in ice, most famously 'Blue Babe' found at Fairbanks, Alaska. This species still lives on in a way; modern American bison are likely direct descendants, while European bison are descended from these that partially hybridized with Aurochs! The 'pure' form of the steppe bison vanished about 9 000 years ago.