Canadian beaver vs Gray-footed Spiny-rat

Castor canadensis compared with Proechimys poliopus

Key Differences

• Canadian beaver is Not Evaluated while Gray-footed Spiny-rat is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Canadian beaver	Gray-footed Spiny-rat
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order same	Rodentia (Rodents)	Rodentia (Rodents)
Family	Castoridae (Beavers)	Echimyidae
Genus	Castor (Beavers)	Proechimys
Species	Castor canadensis	Proechimys poliopus

Evolutionary Relationship

Canadian beaver and Gray-footed Spiny-rat share a common ancestor at the Order level: Rodentia. (Rodents)

Conservation Status

Canadian beaver

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~15.0M

Trend: Stable →

Gray-footed Spiny-rat

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Canadian beaver	Gray-footed Spiny-rat
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).

Gray-footed Spiny-rat

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Venezuela. Currently classified as Vulnerable 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.