Canadian beaver vs Carriker’s Speckled Tree-rat

Castor canadensis compared with Pattonomys carrikeri

Key Differences

• Canadian beaver is Not Evaluated while Carriker’s Speckled Tree-rat is Data Deficient.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Canadian beaver	Carriker’s Speckled Tree-rat
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order same	Rodentia (Rodents)	Rodentia (Rodents)
Family	Castoridae (Beavers)	Echimyidae
Genus	Castor (Beavers)	Pattonomys
Species	Castor canadensis	Pattonomys carrikeri

Evolutionary Relationship

Canadian beaver and Carriker’s Speckled Tree-rat share a common ancestor at the Order level: Rodentia. (Rodents)

Conservation Status

Canadian beaver

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~15.0M

Trend: Stable →

Carriker’s Speckled Tree-rat

DD — Data Deficient

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Canadian beaver	Carriker’s Speckled Tree-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).

Carriker’s Speckled Tree-rat

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Venezuela.

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.

Carriker’s Speckled Tree-rat

The Carriker’s Speckled Tree-rat (Pattonomys carrikeri) is a species in the genus Pattonomys. It is currently classified as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.