When did the American buffalo disappear and become bison?

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

13. We're talking about basically four types of animals in this thread, no?

The American bison, that used to be called the buffalo; the water buffalo that is a domesticated animal in Asia (and some varieties are still in the wild), the wild African buffalo or Cape buffalo that is unrelated to any of the others; and the wizent or European bison that looks somewhat like an American bison or buffalo, with which it can interbreed, and that was nearly hunted to extinction as well but which has made a resurgence? I'm getting confused with all the buffaloes or bison without pictures of what people are talking about.

Here's a pic of the American buffalo's (or bison) European cousin.