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Castoridae is a family of rodents that contains the two living species of beavers and their fossil relatives. A formerly diverse group, only a single genus is extant today, Castor. Two other genera of "giant beavers", Castoroides and Trogontherium, became extinct in the Late Pleistocene .
- Castoroides
Castoroides (Latin: "beaver" (castor), "like" (oides)), or...
- Dipoides
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- Castoroides
Castoridae beavers. Castoridae. beavers. Beavers make up a very small family (2 modern species in one genus, Castor ), but its members are conspicuous members of forest communities in the north temperate zone, and their ecological impact is considerable. They also played a pivotal role in the Euro ...
Sep 24, 2023 · Castoroides artist restoration | Charles R. Knight via Wikipedia Public Domain. Castoroides lived in North America from around 1.9 million to 11,000 years ago before going extinct. The giant beaver likely moved from Alaska and Yukon around 75,000 years ago since the environment began to become more hostile.
It is broad, flat, and covered in large blackish scales. The anal and castor glands have been recorded as large as 3.4 by 2.2 inches for the castors, and 3.0 by 1 inch for the anal glands. Secretions from these glands are used in scent-marking, and give the beaver its odd odor.
The head-and-body length of adult North American beavers is 74–90 cm (29–35 in), with the tail adding a further 20–35 cm (7.9–13.8 in). Very old individuals can exceptionally exceed normal sizes, weighing more than 40 kg (88 lb) or even as much as 50 kg (110 lb) (higher than the maximum known for the Eurasian beaver).
The family Castoridae includes all modern beavers and their fossil relatives. There is only one genus, Castor, containing two species: Castor fiber, the European beaver and C. canadensis, the North American Beaver. The geologic record of this family extends back to the Oligocene, with Castoroides and Palaeocastor being well known extinct members.
HABITAT. Beavers live primarily along streams, ponds, lakes, swamps and other waterways, in areas where they can build dams. They are found mainly in areas with a year-round water flow, but are found occasionally in roadside ditches, drainage ditches, and sewage ponds.
