Canadian beaver vs Common Seal

Castor canadensis compared with Phoca vitulina

Key Differences

• Canadian beaver is Not Evaluated while Common Seal is Near Threatened.
• Canadian beaver is herbivore while Common Seal is carnivore.
• Common Seal is 3.2x heavier than Canadian beaver.
• Common Seal lives longer (30 years vs 15 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Canadian beaver	Common Seal
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Pinnipedia (Seals & Sea Lions)
Family	Castoridae (Beavers)	Phocidae (True Seals)
Genus	Castor (Beavers)	Phoca (Harbor Seals)
Species	Castor canadensis	Phoca vitulina

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Canadian beaver

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~15.0M

Trend: Stable →

Common Seal

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~500.0K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Canadian beaver	Common Seal
Diet	Herbivore	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	15 years	30 years
Average Length	1.0 m	1.7 m
Average Weight	25.0 kg	80.0 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).

Common Seal

Habitat

Typically found in diverse ecosystems where prey species are available.

Range

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

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.

Common Seal

The most widely distributed pinniped, harbor seals inhabit temperate and subarctic coastal waters of both the North Atlantic and North Pacific. Adults reach up to 130 kg and spend roughly equal time at sea hunting fish, squid, and crustaceans and hauling out on beaches or rocks to rest. Their large, expressive eyes are adapted for underwater vision in low light. Harbor seals are a critical food source for orcas, sharks, and polar bears.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 7 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇷🇺 Russia 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇺🇦 Ukraine 🇺🇸 United States