Canadian beaver vs Night Shark

Castor canadensis compared with Carcharhinus signatus

Key Differences

• Canadian beaver is Not Evaluated while Night Shark is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Canadian beaver	Night 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)	Carcharhinidae
Genus	Castor (Beavers)	Carcharhinus
Species	Castor canadensis	Carcharhinus signatus

Evolutionary Relationship

Canadian beaver and Night Shark share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Canadian beaver

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~15.0M

Trend: Stable →

Night Shark

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Canadian beaver	Night 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).

Night Shark

Habitat

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

Range

Found in Venezuela. 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.