Canadian beaver vs red kangaroo

Castor canadensis compared with Macropus rufus

Key Differences

• Canadian beaver is Not Evaluated while red kangaroo is Least Concern.
• red kangaroo is 3.4x heavier than Canadian beaver.
• red kangaroo lives longer (16 years vs 15 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Canadian beaver	red kangaroo
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Diprotodontia (Marsupials)
Family	Castoridae (Beavers)	Macropodidae (Kangaroos)
Genus	Castor (Beavers)	Macropus (Kangaroos)
Species	Castor canadensis	Macropus rufus

Evolutionary Relationship

Canadian beaver and red kangaroo share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (Mammals)

Conservation Status

Canadian beaver

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~15.0M

Trend: Stable →

red kangaroo

LC — Least Concern

Population: ~11.5M

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Canadian beaver	red kangaroo
Diet	Herbivore	Herbivore
Average Lifespan	15 years	16 years
Average Length	1.0 m	1.6 m
Average Weight	25.0 kg	85.0 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).

red kangaroo

Habitat

Typically found in grasslands, forests, and vegetated habitats.

Range

Found in Australia.

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.

red kangaroo

The largest kangaroo and largest marsupial on Earth, red kangaroos can stand 2 meters tall and weigh 90 kg, inhabiting the arid and semi-arid regions of inland Australia. Highly adapted to harsh desert conditions, they can survive without drinking water for long periods by extracting moisture from vegetation. Powerful hind legs enable 9-meter leaps and speeds up to 70 km/h. Males engage in ritualistic boxing contests to compete for females.