Canadian beaver vs Tufted Apple-Moss

Castor canadensis compared with Philonotis caespitosa

Key Differences

Canadian beaver is Not Evaluated while Tufted Apple-Moss is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Canadian beaver	Tufted Apple-Moss
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Bryophyta
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Bryopsida (Bryopsida)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Bartramiales (Bartramiales)
Family	Castoridae (Beavers)	Bartramiaceae
Genus	Castor (Beavers)	Philonotis
Species	Castor canadensis	Philonotis caespitosa

Conservation Status

Canadian beaver

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~15.0M

Trend: Stable →

Tufted Apple-Moss

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Canadian beaver	Tufted Apple-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).

Tufted Apple-Moss

Habitat

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

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries) and North America (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.