Canadian beaver vs Catshark

Castor canadensis compared with Chiloscyllium indicum

Key Differences

• Canadian beaver is Not Evaluated while Catshark is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Canadian beaver	Catshark
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Elasmobranchii
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Orectolobiformes (Orectolobiformes)
Family	Castoridae (Beavers)	Hemiscylliidae
Genus	Castor (Beavers)	Chiloscyllium
Species	Castor canadensis	Chiloscyllium indicum

Evolutionary Relationship

Canadian beaver and Catshark share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Canadian beaver

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~15.0M

Trend: Stable →

Catshark

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Canadian beaver	Catshark
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).

Catshark

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.

Catshark

The Catshark (Chiloscyllium indicum) is a species in the genus Chiloscyllium. It is currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.