Steppe wisent facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Steppe wisentTemporal range: Pleistocene
1.8 mya – 11,000 ya |
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| Bison priscus | |
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| †Bison priscus |
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The steppe bison, also called the steppe wisent (Bison priscus), was a large type of bison that lived long ago and is now extinct. It roamed vast steppes, which are like wide, grassy plains, across many parts of the world.
This ancient animal lived in Europe, Central Asia, a land bridge called Beringia (which connected Asia and North America), and North America. It lived during a time known as the Quaternary period, which includes the Ice Ages. Scientists think the steppe wisent first appeared in South Asia. It lived around the same time and in the same area as the aurochs, another extinct type of wild cattle. Sometimes, the descendants of the steppe wisent are confused with aurochs.
What Happened to the Steppe Wisent?
The steppe wisent died out during the Pleistocene epoch, which was the last Ice Age. After it disappeared, other bison species took its place.
In Europe, the modern wisent, also known as the European bison, became the main bison species. In America, the steppe wisent was first replaced by a very large bison called Bison latifrons. Later, Bison antiquus took over, and finally, the modern American bison appeared.
How Do We Know About Them?
We know about the steppe wisent from a few different sources. Sometimes, these ancient bison appear in cave paintings made by early humans. You can see them in the famous Cave of Altamira in Spain and in the Lascaux caves in France.
Scientists have also found steppe wisent remains that were naturally preserved in ice. This is like finding a frozen animal, which helps us learn a lot about what they looked like and how they lived.
See also
In Spanish: Bisonte estepario para niños
