Castor canadien vs Ecuadorian Cotton Rat

Castor canadensis compared with Sigmodon inopinatus

Key Differences

• Castor canadien is Not Evaluated while Ecuadorian Cotton Rat is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Castor canadien	Ecuadorian Cotton Rat
Kingdom same	Animalia (animal)	Animalia (animal)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (mammifères)	Mammalia (mammifères)
Order same	Rodentia (Rodents)	Rodentia (Rodents)
Family	Castoridae (Beavers)	Cricetidae
Genus	Castor (Beavers)	Sigmodon
Species	Castor canadensis	Sigmodon inopinatus

Evolutionary Relationship

Castor canadien and Ecuadorian Cotton Rat share a common ancestor at the Order level: Rodentia. (Rodents)

Conservation Status

Castor canadien

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~15.0M

Trend: Stable →

Ecuadorian Cotton Rat

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Castor canadien	Ecuadorian Cotton Rat
Diet	Herbivore	—
Average Lifespan	15 years	—
Average Length	1.0 m	—
Average Weight	25.0 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Castor canadien

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).

Ecuadorian Cotton Rat

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Ecuador. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Castor canadien

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.