Canadian beaver vs Chinese Hare

Castor canadensis compared with Lepus sinensis

Key Differences

  • Canadian beaver is Not Evaluated while Chinese Hare is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Canadian beaver Chinese Hare
Kingdom same Animalia (Animals) Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same Chordata (Chordates) Chordata (Chordates)
Class same Mammalia (Mammals) Mammalia (Mammals)
Order Rodentia (Rodents) Lagomorpha (Rabbits & Hares)
Family Castoridae (Beavers) Leporidae (Rabbits & Hares)
Genus Castor (Beavers) Lepus
Species Castor canadensis Lepus sinensis

Evolutionary Relationship

Canadian beaver and Chinese Hare share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (Mammals)

Conservation Status

Canadian beaver

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~15.0M

Trend: Stable →

Chinese Hare

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Canadian beaver Chinese Hare
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).

Chinese Hare

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

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.

Chinese Hare

The Chinese Hare (Lepus sinensis) is a species in the genus Lepus. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Nature FYI Family

Explore more of the natural world across our sister sites.

Part of the Nature FYI family — FYIPedia