Canadian beaver vs Sargasso Weed

Castor canadensis compared with Sargassum natans

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Canadian beaver	Sargasso Weed
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Chromista (Chromista)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Ochrophyta (Ochrophyta)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Phaeophyceae (Phaeophyceae)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Fucales (Fucales)
Family	Castoridae (Beavers)	Sargassaceae
Genus	Castor (Beavers)	Sargassum
Species	Castor canadensis	Sargassum natans

Conservation Status

Canadian beaver

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~15.0M

Trend: Stable →

Sargasso Weed

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Canadian beaver	Sargasso Weed
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).

Sargasso Weed

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Brazil, Norway, and Sao Tome and Principe.

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.