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Castor canadensis

Castor canadensis

8.2
A large rodent native to North America that lives in water and builds lodges and dams
  • noun
  • /ˈkæstər kəˈnædɪsɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Castor canadensis
  • The Castor canadensis is known for its impressive dam-building skills.

Examples

  • The lodge built by the Castor canadensis can contain several generations of beavers.

  • Unlike its European relative, Castor canadensis is not found in Florida.

  • Scientists have studied the habits of Castor canadensis to better understand wetland ecosystems.

  • Have you ever seen a Castor canadensis in the wild?

  • Scientists have studied the habits of Castor canadensis to better understand wetland ecosystems.

  • The lodge built by the Castor canadensis can contain several generations of beavers.

  • Have you ever seen a Castor canadensis in the wild?

Synonyms

beaver
vsCastor canadensis
26 1.0

A large water rodent with webbed back feet and a wide, flat tail that builds dams

is the formal scientific name identifying the North American species specifically
New World beaver
vsCastor canadensis
  • US
4.9

A large animal from North America that lives near water, builds dams, and has a wide flat tail

is the formal scientific name for the same North American species

Surface Forms

Morphology

Castor + canadensis

This is a standard Linnaean binomial: the genus name 'Castor' (beaver) plus the species epithet 'canadensis' (indicating origin from Canada) composes directly to identify the North American beaver. Because the meaning follows a predictable taxonomic naming pattern, a learner who knows both constituents can derive the MWE's referent.

Etymology

Castor canadensis comes from old Latin words: Castor means 'beaver' and canadensis means 'from Canada'. So the name literally says 'beaver from Canada', which is why it names the North American beaver.