Canadian beaver vs Flathead cat shark

Castor canadensis compared with Apristurus macrorhynchus

Key Differences

• Canadian beaver is Not Evaluated while Flathead cat shark is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Canadian beaver	Flathead cat shark
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous Fish)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Carcharhiniformes (Ground Sharks)
Family	Castoridae (Beavers)	Scyliorhinidae
Genus	Castor (Beavers)	Apristurus
Species	Castor canadensis	Apristurus macrorhynchus

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Canadian beaver

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~15.0M

Trend: Stable →

Flathead cat shark

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Canadian beaver	Flathead cat shark
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).

Flathead cat shark

Habitat

Typically found in marine environments from coastal waters to deep ocean.

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.