Castor canadensis Kuhl 1820
2. North American Beaver Castor canadensis French: Castor du Canada / German: Kanadischer Biber / Spanish: Castor americano Other common names: American Beaver, Canadian Beaver Taxonomy. Castor canadensis Kuhl, 1820, “Ad fretum Hudsoni, [Hudson Strait or Bay],” Canada. Twenty-four subspecies have be...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Other/Unknown Material |
| Language: | unknown |
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Lynx Edicions
2016
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| Online Access: | https://zenodo.org/record/6584796 https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6584796 |
| Summary: | 2. North American Beaver Castor canadensis French: Castor du Canada / German: Kanadischer Biber / Spanish: Castor americano Other common names: American Beaver, Canadian Beaver Taxonomy. Castor canadensis Kuhl, 1820, “Ad fretum Hudsoni, [Hudson Strait or Bay],” Canada. Twenty-four subspecies have been described and used in the past, but extreme exploitation and mixing of populations during reintroductions seem to make these meaningless. More genetic analysis of both mtDNA and nDNA will require a reevaluation of the concept of geographic subspecies based on morphological differences. There is currently no genetic evidence to support subspecies in the North American species. Monotypic. Distribution. North America, from the Mackenzie River Delta, Northwest Territories, Canada, S throughout Canada and USA, excluding peninsular Florida and arid parts of the SW, to N Mexico (Baja California to Tamaulipas). North American Beavers have been introduced into Europe (Finland, Russia, Central Europe), Russian Far East (Kamchatka and Sakhalin Island), and Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Descriptive notes. Head—body 800-900 mm, tail 200-300 mm; weight 15-20 kg (rarely, 30-40 kg). The North American Beavers is the second largest rodent species in the world (tied with the Eurasian Beaver, C. fiber) and the largest North American rodent. Sexes are externally similar, with no sexual dimorphism. North American Beavers are stocky, robust rodents with relatively massive skeletons. Fronts of incisors are reddishorange, caused by iron concentration for strength. Coat color ranges from light brown or blonde to darker reddish-brown to almost black. Reddish-brown color, called Algonquin, is most common; very dark to blackish fur is rare in natural populations. Fur consists of long, course guard hairs and soft, dense underfur. Underfur was processed into felt for the European hat industry that flourished from the late 16™ century to the mid-19" century. Other physical adaptations are associated with their aquatic habits. North American ... |
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