Question

bison or buffalo?bison and buffalo belong to the bovidae, or cattle, family, but they are different species and have distinct characteristics. many people refer to the creatures that once roamed the american west as buffalo; however, these animals are actually american bison, and they are only found in north america. on the other hand, two species of buffalo—the cape buffalo and the water buffalo—are found in africa and asia, respectively. unlike the american bison, which has short horns similar to those of cows, buffalo have broad, sweeping horns. in addition, the american bison has a broad head carried low and a massive hump at the shoulders. in contrast, buffalo dont have shoulder humps and their heads are smaller than the bisons.what is the main, or central, idea of the passage?buffalo and american bison are both members of the bovidae family.american bison are often mistakenly called buffalo, but the two creatures are quite different.american bison can be distinguished from buffalo by the size and shape of their horns.

Explanation:

The passage opens by stating bison and buffalo are different species in the same family, clarifies that American bison are often misnamed buffalo, then details key physical and geographic differences between them. The first option only covers a minor shared trait, the third only focuses on one specific difference. The second option captures the core: the common misnomer and the overall distinction between the two.

Answer:

American bison are often mistakenly called buffalo, but the two creatures are quite different.