Canadian beaver vs long-leaved hook moss

Castor canadensis compared with Drepanocladus longifolius

Key Differences

Canadian beaver is Not Evaluated while long-leaved hook moss is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Canadian beaver	long-leaved hook moss
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Bryophyta
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Bryopsida (Bryopsida)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Hypnales (Hypnales)
Family	Castoridae (Beavers)	Amblystegiaceae
Genus	Castor (Beavers)	Drepanocladus
Species	Castor canadensis	Drepanocladus longifolius

Conservation Status

Canadian beaver

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~15.0M

Trend: Stable →

long-leaved hook moss

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Canadian beaver	long-leaved hook moss
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).

long-leaved hook moss

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and United States. 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.