Canadian beaver vs Ecuadorian Cotton Rat

Castor canadensis compared with Sigmodon inopinatus

Key Differences

• Canadian beaver is Not Evaluated while Ecuadorian Cotton Rat is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Canadian beaver	Ecuadorian Cotton Rat
Kingdom same	Animalia (حيوانات)	Animalia (حيوانات)
Phylum same	Chordata (حبليات)	Chordata (حبليات)
Class same	Mammalia (ثدييات)	Mammalia (ثدييات)
Order same	Rodentia (قوارض)	Rodentia (قوارض)
Family	Castoridae (Beavers)	Cricetidae
Genus	Castor (Beavers)	Sigmodon
Species	Castor canadensis	Sigmodon inopinatus

Evolutionary Relationship

Canadian beaver and Ecuadorian Cotton Rat share a common ancestor at the Order level: Rodentia. (قوارض)

Conservation Status

Canadian beaver

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~15.0M

Trend: Stable →

Ecuadorian Cotton Rat

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Canadian beaver	Ecuadorian Cotton Rat
Diet	Herbivore	—
Average Lifespan	15 years	—
Average Length	1.0 m	—
Average Weight	25.0 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Canadian beaver

Habitat

Typically found in grasslands, forests, and vegetated habitats.

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (15 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Argentina, Chile).

Ecuadorian Cotton Rat

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Ecuador. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Canadian beaver

The largest rodent in North America, Canadian beavers weigh up to 32 kg and are master ecosystem engineers inhabiting rivers, lakes, and wetlands across Canada and the northern United States. By felling trees and constructing dams up to hundreds of meters long, beavers create ponds that provide habitat for hundreds of species. Their lodges and canals transform entire watersheds. Once nearly hunted to extinction for their fur, beaver populations have recovered strongly.