Facts About Mountain Beavers

Sometimes the term Living Fossils refers to an animal that is not closely related to any other animal or has survived extinction on at least one occasion, but sometimes people use the term to refer to any animal that has been around for a very long time. The Mountain Beaver, as the most ancient living rodent, is an example of a living fossil.

Although they are called beavers, Mountain Beavers are not closely related to other beaver species. Both the North American beaver and the Eurasian beaver are members of the genus Castor, whereas the mountain beaver is in the genus Aplodontia.

Not only is the Mountain Beaver unrelated to other beavers, it is the only living animal in its genus, its closest relatives all having gone extinct. This makes it a living fossil by many standards, but there are other features that point to the long history of the mountain beaver.

For example, its jaw and the muscles that control the jaw are arranged in a manner unlike any other living rodent. The Mountain Beaver's closest living relatives are squirrels.

Like many other living fossils, Mountain Beavers are highly adapted and very well suited to survive as a species. Currently, there are seven subspecies of Mountain Beaver, and they can be found along the Pacific coast of North America from British Columbia, Canada to the Sierra Nevada mountains in California.

Due to its diet and biological adaptations, the Mountain Beaver is specially suited to this rainy area and would not be likely to survive in drier climates.

Historically, the Chinook people made cloaks and other items from the pelts of mountain beavers. Such a pelt was called a sewellel, and as a result, sometimes the Mountain Beaver is called a Sewellel Beaver. Other names for the Mountain Beaver include: Giant Mole, Whistler, Boomer, Ground Bear, and Aplodontia.

The beavers have a number of predators, including cougars, bobcats, coyotes, and owls. They protect themselves from predators by building elaborate tunnel systems in which they live and store food. Other small animals have been known to make use of these tunnel systems, as well.

Another interesting fact about Mountain Beavers is that they provide a home to the oldest and largest species of flea discovered to date. Mountain Beavers themselves are usually between 12 and 20 inches in length. Their fleas have been found to grow up to one third of an inch in length.

In addition to avoiding humans, Mountain Beavers are reported to be quite antisocial in general. Although their territories may overlap, they do not associate with other beavers, and mating pairs do not remain together for any length of time.

Due to these reclusive habits, even natives of the Pacific region of North America may never see a Mountain Beaver in the wild, but they are likely to continue flourishing there.