Arctic Burreed vs Canadian beaver

Sparganium natans compared with Castor canadensis

Key Differences

  • Arctic Burreed is Near Threatened while Canadian beaver is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Arctic Burreed Canadian beaver
Kingdom Plantae (Plants) Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants) Chordata (Chordates)
Class Liliopsida (Monocots) Mammalia (Mammals)
Order Poales (Grasses) Rodentia (Rodents)
Family Typhaceae Castoridae (Beavers)
Genus Sparganium Castor (Beavers)
Species Sparganium natans Castor canadensis

Conservation Status

Arctic Burreed

NT — Near Threatened

Canadian beaver

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~15.0M

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Arctic Burreed Canadian beaver
Diet Herbivore
Average Lifespan 15 years
Average Length 1.0 m
Average Weight 25.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Arctic Burreed

Habitat

Typically found in grasslands, wetlands, forests, and cultivated landscapes.

Range

Found across Europe (7 countries) and North America (Canada, United States). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

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).

Arctic Burreed

The Arctic Burreed (Sparganium natans) is a species in the genus Sparganium. It is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in grasslands, wetlands, forests, and cultivated landscapes.

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.

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