Canadian beaver vs Pacific Spiny-rat

Castor canadensis compared with Proechimys decumanus

Key Differences

• Canadian beaver is Not Evaluated while Pacific Spiny-rat is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Canadian beaver	Pacific Spiny-rat
Kingdom same	Animalia (hayvan)	Animalia (hayvan)
Phylum same	Chordata (Kordalılar)	Chordata (Kordalılar)
Class same	Mammalia (memeliler)	Mammalia (memeliler)
Order same	Rodentia (kemiriciler)	Rodentia (kemiriciler)
Family	Castoridae (Beavers)	Echimyidae
Genus	Castor (Beavers)	Proechimys
Species	Castor canadensis	Proechimys decumanus

Evolutionary Relationship

Canadian beaver and Pacific Spiny-rat share a common ancestor at the Order level: Rodentia. (kemiriciler)

Conservation Status

Canadian beaver

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~15.0M

Trend: Stable →

Pacific Spiny-rat

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Canadian beaver	Pacific Spiny-rat
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).

Pacific Spiny-rat

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Ecuador. 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.