water buffalo vs Bubalus bubalis

water buffalo and Bubalus bubalis both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
water buffalo	Yes	No	No	No
Bubalus bubalis	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, water buffalo and Bubalus bubalis are synonyms defined as:

water buffalo and Bubalus bubalis: an Asian buffalo that is often domesticated for use as a draft animal

Other synonyms of water buffalo include Asiatic buffalo, water ox.

water buffalo (noun)	Bubalus bubalis (noun)
an Asian buffalo that is often domesticated for use as a draft animal	an Asian buffalo that is often domesticated for use as a draft animal