Canadian beaver vs Polar bear

Castor canadensis compared with Ursus maritimus

Key Differences

  • Canadian beaver is Not Evaluated while Polar bear is Vulnerable.
  • Canadian beaver is herbivore while Polar bear is carnivore.
  • Polar bear is 18.0x heavier than Canadian beaver.
  • Polar bear lives longer (25 years vs 15 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Canadian beaver Polar bear
Kingdom same Animalia (动物界) Animalia (动物界)
Phylum same Chordata (脊索动物门) Chordata (脊索动物门)
Class same Mammalia (哺乳動物) Mammalia (哺乳動物)
Order Rodentia (啮齿目) Carnivora (食肉目)
Family Castoridae (Beavers) Ursidae (Bears)
Genus Castor (Beavers) Ursus (Bears)
Species Castor canadensis Ursus maritimus

Evolutionary Relationship

Canadian beaver and Polar bear share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (哺乳動物)

Conservation Status

Canadian beaver

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~15.0M

Trend: Stable →

Polar bear

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~26.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Canadian beaver Polar bear
Diet Herbivore Carnivore
Average Lifespan 15 years 25 years
Average Length 1.0 m 2.4 m
Average Weight 25.0 kg 450.0 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).

Polar bear

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 4 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

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

Canadian beaver

北美最大的啮齿动物加拿大河狸体重可达32公斤,是栖息于加拿大和美国北部河流、湖泊和湿地的杰出生态系统工程师。通过伐木和建造可达数百米的水坝形成水塘,为数百种物种提供生境。其巢穴和运河改变了整个流域。曾因毛皮贸易被猎杀至濒临灭绝,但种群已大幅恢复。

Polar bear

北极熊是地球上最大的陆地食肉动物,体重可超过700千克,分布于从加拿大到俄罗斯的北极海冰区。是高度特化的海洋哺乳动物,依赖海冰捕猎环斑海豹和髯海豹。是优秀的游泳者,能够横渡广阔的开阔水域。被列为易危种,因气候变化导致北极海冰迅速减少,种群正受到严重威胁。

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

Nature FYI Family

Explore more of the natural world across our sister sites.

Part of the Nature FYI family — FYIPedia