Canadian beaver vs European water vole

Castor canadensis compared with Arvicola amphibius

Key Differences

Canadian beaver is Not Evaluated while European water vole is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Canadian beaver	European water vole
Kingdom same	Animalia (สัตว์)	Animalia (สัตว์)
Phylum same	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)
Class same	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)
Order same	Rodentia (อันดับสัตว์ฟันแทะ)	Rodentia (อันดับสัตว์ฟันแทะ)
Family	Castoridae (Beavers)	Cricetidae
Genus	Castor (Beavers)	Arvicola
Species	Castor canadensis	Arvicola amphibius

Evolutionary Relationship

Canadian beaver and European water vole share a common ancestor at the Order level: Rodentia. (อันดับสัตว์ฟันแทะ)

ดู: Order: Rodentia

Conservation Status

Canadian beaver

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~15.0M

Trend: Stable →

European water vole

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Canadian beaver	European water vole
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).

European water vole

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Russia, and Sweden. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

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.