Canadian beaver vs Ray

Castor canadensis compared with Atlantoraja castelnaui

Key Differences

• Canadian beaver is Not Evaluated while Ray is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Canadian beaver	Ray
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Elasmobranchii
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Rajiformes (Rajiformes)
Family	Castoridae (Beavers)	Arhynchobatidae
Genus	Castor (Beavers)	Atlantoraja
Species	Castor canadensis	Atlantoraja castelnaui

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Canadian beaver

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~15.0M

Trend: Stable →

Ray

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Canadian beaver	Ray
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).

Ray

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.