Canadian beaver vs

Castor canadensis compared with Hemitrichia pardina

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Canadian beaver
Kingdom Animalia (Animals) Protozoa (protozoa)
Phylum Chordata (Chordates) Mycetozoa
Class Mammalia (Mammals) Myxomycetes (Myxomycetes)
Order Rodentia (Rodents) Trichiales (Trichiales)
Family Castoridae (Beavers) Arcyriaceae
Genus Castor (Beavers) Hemitrichia
Species Castor canadensis Hemitrichia pardina

Conservation Status

Canadian beaver

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~15.0M

Trend: Stable →

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Canadian beaver
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).

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Brazil, Norway, Sweden, and Taiwan.

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.

Hemitrichia pardina is a myxomycete (slime mould) producing small, stalked, globose to ovoid sporangia with a yellowish to brownish peridium, growing on decaying wood and plant litter in forest habitats. Its internal capillitium threads assist in spore dispersal. This species is widely distributed across temperate and tropical forests and contributes to microbial food webs.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

Nature FYI Family

Explore more of the natural world across our sister sites.

Part of the Nature FYI family — FYIPedia