Beaver

Beaver
Scientific classification
Kingdom Information
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum Information
Phylum	Chordata
Sub-phylum	Vertebrata
Class Information
Class	Mammalia
Order Information
Order	Rodentia
Sub-order	Myomorpha
Family Information
Family	Castoridae
Genus Information
Genus	Castor
Species Information
Species	C. canadensis C. fiber
Population statistics

Beavers are two species of large, aquatic, flat-tailed rodent of the Northern hemisphere. The only larger rodent is the capybara.

Beavers live in dams, some of immense size, which they construct by felling waterside trees. Though superficially this can appear destructive, the activities of beavers do much to preserve the existing forms of rivers and stabilise their flow, and provide significant areas of wetland habitat in their vicinity.

Beaver fur was formerly much sought after, and unrestricted hunting and trapping has done much to reduce their range both in North America, and in Europe, where it historically became extinct in Great Britain and France, though reintroduction programmes are now underway.

Beaver Trivia

• The beaver is the national animal of Canada.

• During the 18th century, the beaver was ruled to be a fish by the Roman Catholic Church, on the basis of the Summa Theologica by Thomas Aquinas. As such, it may be consumed during Lent.

External Links

• Beaver, Videos © 2008 Yellowstone Association