Canadian beaver vs Elktoe

Castor canadensis compared with Alasmidonta marginata

Key Differences

• Canadian beaver is Not Evaluated while Elktoe is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Canadian beaver	Elktoe
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Mollusca (Mollusks)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Bivalvia (Bivalvia)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Unionida (Unionida)
Family	Castoridae (Beavers)	Unionidae
Genus	Castor (Beavers)	Alasmidonta
Species	Castor canadensis	Alasmidonta marginata

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Canadian beaver

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~15.0M

Trend: Stable →

Elktoe

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Canadian beaver	Elktoe
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).

Elktoe

Habitat

Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Norway and 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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway 🇺🇸 United States