Canadian beaver vs Colletid bee

Castor canadensis compared with Hylaeus pictipes

Key Differences

• Canadian beaver is Not Evaluated while Colletid bee is Extinct.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Canadian beaver	Colletid bee
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees & Wasps)
Family	Castoridae (Beavers)	Colletidae
Genus	Castor (Beavers)	Hylaeus
Species	Castor canadensis	Hylaeus pictipes

Evolutionary Relationship

Canadian beaver and Colletid bee share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Canadian beaver

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~15.0M

Trend: Stable →

Colletid bee

EX — Extinct

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Canadian beaver	Colletid bee
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).

Colletid bee

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (5 countries) and North America (United States).

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.

Colletid bee

<em>Hylaeus pictipes</em>, commonly known as the Colletid bee, is a species belonging to the genus <em>Hylaeus</em> within the family Colletidae, one of the most ancient lineages of bees. This species is classified as Extinct, signifying that no living individuals are known to survive. Historical records indicate its former presence across several European countries, including Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, and Sweden. The species is noted to have been capable of occupying virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats, suggesting considerable ecological flexibility during its existence. Colletid bees in this genus are typically solitary, with females provisioning individual nest cells with a mixture of pollen and nectar rather than collectively forming colonies. Specific dietary information for <em>Hylaeus pictipes</em> beyond general nectivory and pollen collection has not been recorded. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. The loss of this species reflects broader declines in native bee diversity across Europe, driven by habitat loss, agricultural intensification, and other anthropogenic pressures.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 5 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇱🇺 Luxembourg 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇺🇸 United States