Changes

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}

{{Taxobox

{{Automatic taxobox

| name = Beavers

| name             =Beaver

| fossil_range = Late [[Miocene]] - Recent

| fossil_range     =Late [[Miocene]]{{snd}}Recent

| image = Beaver.jpg

| image           =American Beaver.jpg

| image_width = 200px

| image_caption    =[[North American beaver]] (''Castor canadensis'')

| image_caption = American Beaver

| taxon            =Castor

| regnum = [[Animal]]ia

| authority        =[[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]]

| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]

| subdivision_ranks=Species

| classis = [[Mammal]]ia

| subdivision      = ''[[North American beaver|C. canadensis]]'' – North American beaver{{break}} ''[[Eurasian beaver|C. fiber]]'' – Eurasian beaver{{break}}†''[[Castor californicus|C. californicus]]''{{break}} †''[[Castor praefiber|C. praefiber]]''{{break}} †''[[Castor neglectus|C. neglectus]]''

| ordo = [[Rodent]]ia

| range_map=Castor range.png

| subordo = [[Castorimorpha]]

| range_map_caption=Range of the living beavers as of 2016 (including introduced ''C. canadensis'' populations in Europe and Patagonia, but missing ''C. fiber'' populations in Mongolia and northwestern China, as well as reintroduced populations in the United Kingdom)

| familia = [[Castoridae]]

| genus = '''''Castor'''''

| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1758

| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]

| subdivision =

American Beaver,'' C. canadensis''<br />

European Beaver, ''C. fiber''

}}

}}

A '''beaver''' is a kind of large [[rodent]]. It is ''semi-aquatic'', meaning some of the time it lives in [[water]], some of the time it lives on land. Beavers can only be found in [[North America]] and [[Europe]]. In Europe, they almost became extinct (died off), but they are returning. There are beavers living in the [[Elbe]] and [[Rhone]] [[river]]s, as well as in [[Bavaria]], [[Poland]] and [[Scandinavia]]. Beavers are known for building and keeping [[dam]]s in [[river]]s.

A '''beaver''' is large [[rodent]]. It is ''semi-aquatic'': some of the time it lives in [[water]], some of the time it lives on land. Beavers are only found in [[North America]] and [[Europe]]. In [[Great Britain]], for example, they have been deliberately re-introduced. In Europe, they almost died off, but they are returning. There are beavers living in the [[Elbe]] and [[Rhone]] [[river]]s, as well as in [[Bavaria]], [[Poland]] and [[Scandinavia]]. Beavers are known for building and keeping [[dam]]s in [[river]]s.

==Kinds of beavers==

Currently there are two different [[species]] of beaver, the American beaver (''C. canadensis'') and the European beaver (''C. fiber'').

== Kinds of beavers ==

 

There are two different [[species]] of beaver, the American beaver (''C. canadensis'') and the European beaver (''C. fiber'').

===The American beaver===

== The American beaver ==

This beaver can be found in [[North America]], in [[Canada]], the [[United States]] and in Northern [[Mexico]]. It is the second largest rodent in the world, and the largest found in North America. The largest rodent of the world is the [[capybara]] from [[South America]].

This beaver is in [[North America]], in [[Canada]], the [[United States]] and in Northern [[Mexico]]. It is the second largest rodent in the world, and the largest found in North America. The largest rodent of the world is the [[capybara]] in [[South America]].

 

== The European beaver ==

===The European beaver===

The European beaver is currently an endangered species. It was hunted almost to extinction. This was done because of its [[fur]], and because of [[castoreum]]. Castoreum is made by a [[gland]], which is also responsible for the smell of the animal.<ref>{{IUCN2006|assessors=Gippoliti|year=2002|id=4007|title=Castor fiber|downloaded=May 11, 2006}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is near threatened</ref> It is used as a [[tincture]] in some [[perfume]]s<ref name="museesdegrasse.com">International Perfume Museum, Grasse, France, Website: {{cite web |url=http://www.museesdegrasse.com/MIP/fla_ang/mat_prem_10.shtml |title=Welcome in the International Perfume Museum: Raw materials |access-date=2006-02-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070624132157/http://www.museesdegrasse.com/MIP/fla_ang/mat_prem_10.shtml |archive-date=2007-06-24 }}</ref>

The European beaver is currently an endangered species. It was hunted almost to extinction. This was done because of its [[fur]], and because of [[castoreum]]. Castoreum is made by a certain [[gland]], which is also responsible for the smell of the animal.<ref>{{IUCN2006|assessors=Gippoliti|year=2002|id=4007|title=Castor fiber|downloaded=May 11, 2006}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is near threatened</ref> People are currently (2007) reintroducing the beaver, because the important role of the beaver for the ecology of rivers was discovered.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwf.at/Projekte/artenschutz/project141 |title=Europäischer Biber |publisher=[[World Wide Fund for Nature|WWF Österreich]] |access-date=August 24, 2006 |archive-date=February 14, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050214001212/http://www.wwf.at/Projekte/artenschutz/project141/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Beaver dams (or the small lakes that form) provide a habitat for many species.

== Beaver fur ==

== Beaver fur ==

Early visitors that met Native Americans saw them wearing animal skin blankets. The fur on these blankets were good for [[felt]]ing. The Europeans wanted felt [[hat]]s, and the Native Americans wanted metal: so, fur trading began.

Early visitors that met Native Americans saw them wearing animal skin blankets. The fur on these blankets were good for [[felt]]ing. The Europeans wanted felt [[hat]]s, and the Native Americans wanted metal: so, fur trading began.

Beaver was the most popular fur for hats. At that time in North America, there were about sixty million beavers. Only the soft inside fur was used for [[felt]]ing. The best time for collecting the beaver's fur was winter, when the fur was thickest. It was also a good time to hunt, since the beaver stayed close to its home in the winter and was easy to catch. The [[fur trade]] gave money to the European traders. The Indians who caught the beavers got the metal tools and other high technology items they wanted, until the beavers were mostly gone.

Beaver was the most popular fur for hats. At that time in North America, there were about sixty million beavers. Only the soft inside fur was used for [[felt]]ing. The best time for collecting the beaver's fur was winter, when the fur was thickest. It was also a good time to hunt, since the beaver stayed close to its home in the winter and was easy to catch. The [[fur trade]] gave money to the European traders. The Indians who caught the beavers got the metal tools and other high technology items they wanted, until the beavers were mostly gone.

 

== Images ==

==Images==

<gallery>

<gallery>

File:Castor canadensis.jpg|An American Beaver

File:Castor canadensis.jpg|An American Beaver

File:Castor fiber tree felling 2 brok beentree.jpg|Beavers chopped down this tree

File:Castor fiber tree felling 2 brok beentree.jpg|Beavers chopped down this tree

File:Beaver dam in Tierra del Fuego.jpg|Beaver dam near [[Ushuaia]], [[Tierra del Fuego]], [[Argentina]]

File:Beaver dam in Tierra del Fuego.jpg|Beaver dam near [[Ushuaia]], [[Tierra del Fuego]], [[Argentina]]

</gallery>

</gallery>

==References==

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

== References ==

{{reflist}}

{{reflist}}

* {{IUCN2006|assessors=MacDonald & Cook|year=2000|id=4003|title=Castor canadensis|downloaded=May 12, 2006}}

* {{IUCN2006|assessors=MacDonald & Cook|year=2000|id=4003|title=Castor canadensis|downloaded=May 12, 2006}}

* {{ITIS|ID=180212|taxon=Castor canadensis|year=2006|date=March 18}}

* {{ITIS|ID=180212|taxon=Castor canadensis|date=2006-03-18}}

 

== Other websites ==

== Other websites ==

{{commons|Castor}}

{{commons|Castor}}

[[Category:Rodents]]

[[Category:Rodents]]

[[Category:Mammals of North America]]

[[Category:Mammals of North America]]