Beavers are special

“Semi-aquatic mammals!”

• Semi-aquatic means they live half their lives in water
• Beavers build ponds for many reasons including protection from predators
• Can you name other mammals that live in water?

Why are beavers important?

1. Keystone species
2. Ecosystem builders

1. Staying underwater

• Beavers can hold their breath underwater for up to approximately 15 minutes
• A variety of adaptations allow for this skill
• How long can you hold your breath?

2. Teeth

• Orange is from diet (like a pink flamingo!)
  • Makes teeth strong
• Never stop growing
• Sharp like a chisel

3. Tail

• Communicating danger by slapping the water
• Helps steer while swimming
• Used for balance
• Helps regulate body temperature

4. Webbed hind paws

• For swimming quick and gracefully
• Strong and clawed for climbing out of streams

5. Built in comb!

• Beavers spend a lot of time keeping themselves groomed

6. Agile front paws

• Great diggers
• Carry heavy items like rocks and logs
• Hold on to things they eat

7. Beaver fur (part 1)

• Beavers have two kinds of fur: an inner and outer layer
• Inner fur is dense and waterproof!
• This fine fur is used in fashion

8. Beaver fur (part 2)

image credit: Kim Graham

• Thick, longer outer hair helps keep beaver warm

9. Beaver fat

• Essential to keeping beaver warm in the winter!
• Makes them slower on land

10. Oil glands

• Remember how that inner fur is waterproof? Beavers produce their own water-proofing oil!
• Remeber that split claw? Beavers groom themselves frequently

11. Scent glands (castoreum)

• Where beavers get their scientific name
  • North American beaver = Castor canadensis
  • Eurasian beaver = Castor fiber
• Beavers use castor mainly as a territorial marking

12. Seeing underwater

• Beavers have a special membrane over there eyes to make it easier to see underwater
• This is called a nictitating membrane
• Other animals have this adaptation as well including camels. Why camels?!

Image credit: Lilla Frerichs

13. Ear and nose plugs

• Unique flaps over the ear and nose helps prevent water from going into these parts while swimming

14. Special lips

• Beaver lips can close even when they have a branch sticking out of their mouth
  • This allows beavers to carry items underwater without getting water in their lungs!

15. Sagittal Crest

• Ridge over the center of the skull
• Improves jaw strength