Canadian beaver vs Formosan Cypress

Castor canadensis compared with Chamaecyparis formosensis

Key Differences

• Canadian beaver is Not Evaluated while Formosan Cypress is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Canadian beaver	Formosan Cypress
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Coniferophyta (Conifers)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Pinopsida (Conifers)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Pinales (Pines & Allies)
Family	Castoridae (Beavers)	Cupressaceae
Genus	Castor (Beavers)	Chamaecyparis
Species	Castor canadensis	Chamaecyparis formosensis

Conservation Status

Canadian beaver

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~15.0M

Trend: Stable →

Formosan Cypress

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Canadian beaver	Formosan Cypress
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).

Formosan Cypress

Habitat

Typically found in temperate and boreal forests, often at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Taiwan. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

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.