Bufala Mediterranea Italiana — a specialized dairy breed of the river type of Asian buffalo. Animals of medium and large size, with a strong but relatively light bone structure and a pronounced dairy type. Height at withers in cows 1350–1550 mm (average 1420–1450 mm), body length 1600–1900 mm, stretch index 125–135. Live weight of cows 650–850 kg, bulls 850–1100 kg. Head relatively light, elongated, with a wide forehead and slightly convex profile (length in cows 480–560 mm). Horns directed backward-outward-downward, then slightly upward; in cows thin and long (450–650 mm along the curve). Neck of medium length (450–580 mm) with dewlap. Body deep, back straight or slightly raised in the loin, chest deep (750–880 mm), girth 1900–2300 mm. Limbs strong, relatively thin, height at the carpus 380–440 mm, hooves black. Tail long (900–1200 mm with hair), thin, with a dense black brush. Coat very short, sparse, almost absent on the sides and back. Dominant color — uniform coal-black. Skin thick, dark gray to black with a bluish tint. Small white markings on the udder, tip of the tail, or a star on the forehead are allowed. According to the ANASB standard, only black color is allowed; other colors (brown, red, gray, piebald, white) disqualify. Differs from the wild Bubalus bubalis by smaller size, lighter head, less massive horns, shorter coat, and pronounced dairy type (long deep body, well-developed udder).