Home›Mammals›Taxonomy›CastoridaeTaxaCastoridaeMammal FamiliesReference and ClassificationThoroughly VerifiedCastoridae is the beaver family, in the rodent suborder Castorimorpha, containing the single living genus Castor with two species, the North American beaver and the Eurasian beaver. Beavers are large, semiaquatic rodents known for building dams and lodges from felled trees and mud, and the family also includes numerous extinct genera known from the fossil record.FactsCastoridaeConnectionsIn the Other AtlasesSourcesComments (0)Reader Challenges (0)FactsTaxonomic RankWell-attestedFamily 1Scientific NameWell-attestedCastoridae 1Member Species/Taxa CountWell-attested2 1Geographic DistributionWell-attestedEarliest castorids are known from the late Eocene and Oligocene of North America and Asia 1Defining CharacteristicsWell-attestedMedium to large, semiaquatic rodents with sleek bodies and webbed hind feet 1Member Count BandWell-attestedUnder 10 Species 3Era First AppearedWell-attestedPaleogene 4IdentificationDistinguishing AppearanceWell-attestedTails are flattened and scaly, an adaptation for maneuvering in water 1ClassificationLiving or ExtinctWell-attestedYes 2CastoridaeFilter Results2 entriesCommon GroupAllRodents And Lagomorphs (2)Everyday GroupAllRodents And Lagomorphs (2)HabitatAllFreshwater (1)Lake (1)Riparian Zone (1)River (1)Wetlands (2)Where It LivesAllArgentina (2)Austria (2)Belgium (2)Chile (2)Cyprus (2)Finland (2)France (2)Germany (2)Hungary (2)Italy (2)Luxembourg (2)Mexico (2)New Zealand (2)North America (2)Norway (2)Poland (2)Portugal (2)Russia (2)South America (2)Spain (2)Sweden (2)United States (2)Conservation StatusAllLeast Concern (2)DietAllHerbivore (2)System (Realm)AllFreshwater (2)Terrestrial (2)Living or ExtinctAllYes (2)Relationship to PeopleAllHunted or Fished (1)Invasive or Introduced Species (1)Used in Traditional Medicine (1)CITES AppendixAllNot Listed (2)NatureServe RankAllG5 Secure (2)EcosystemAllArctic Tundra (1)Canadian Boreal Forest (1)Yellowstone (1)Show ResultsBrowseCompareSelect all 2BeaverCastoridaeNorth American BeaverCastoridaeConnectionsParent Taxon OfBeaver, Species Well-attested Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Castor canadensis (Animal Diversity Web)Eurasian Beaver, Species Well-attested Source Animal Diversity Web: Castor fiber (Eurasian beaver)North American Beaver, Species Well-attested Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Castor canadensis (Animal Diversity Web)In the Other AtlasesFound InAsiaAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.North AmericaAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.Sources1. Castoridae - WikipediaLead sentenceCastoridae is a family of rodents that contains the two living species of beavers and their fossil relatives.Lead sentence, family name clauseCastoridae is a family of rodents that contains the two living species of beavers and their fossil relatives.Lead sentence, species count clauseCastoridae is a family of rodents that contains the two living species of beavers and their fossil relatives.Evolution section, earliest occurrence clauseknown from the late Eocene and Oligocene of North America and AsiaCharacteristics section, body form sentenceCastorids are medium-sized mammals, although large compared with most other rodents. They are semiaquatic, with sleek bodies and webbed hind feet.Characteristics section, tail sentenceTheir tails are flattened and scaly, adaptations that help them manoeuvre in the water.View the Source2. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)tier 2Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ261363, descriptionView the Source3. Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank): Taxon metrics for CastoridaeCatalogue of Life (ChecklistBank)Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCountQuote, Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount"speciesExtantCount": 2View the Source4. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for CastoridaePaleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)Quote, Taxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)"taxon_name": "Castoridae" ... "firstapp_max_ma": 37.71 ... "early_interval": "Priabonian"View the SourceWikidata: CastoridaeWikidata Q261363, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the SourceAnimal Diversity Web: Castor fiber (Eurasian beaver)Parent Taxon Of: Eurasian Beaver, Scientific Classification, familyQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Eurasian Beaver, Scientific Classification, familyFamily Castoridae beaversView the SourceAnimal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Castor canadensis (Animal Diversity Web)Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyParent Taxon Of: Beaver, Scientific Classification, familyFamily Castoridae beaversParent Taxon Of: North American Beaver, Scientific Classification, familyFamily Castoridae beaversView the SourceComments (0)No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.Sign in to join the discussion.Reader Challenges (0)No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.