Will's Skull Page - Beaver Skull

Castor canadensis

American Beaver

WILL'S SKULL PAGE

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preparation

This is the North American species, but the European species (C. fiber) is very similar. Old English place names such as Beverley and Beversbrook and scattered archaeological finds suggest that beavers survived in Britain until the 10th century. Press releases connected with recent re-introductions in Britain state that they became extinct as late as the 16th century.

1. Beaver skull, lateral view

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2. Beaver skull, ventral view

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Internet Resources

Bucknell University: Wilson & Reeder's taxonomic checklist

UMich Animal Diversity Web

Taxonomy:
Order - Rodentia (gnawers)
Suborder - Castorimorpha (beaver-like)
Family - Castoridae (beavers)

Scientific Name:
Castor - "beaver" (Latin)

Dental Formula
1.0.1.3 / 1.0.1.3

Measurements: (explained)
Condylobasal length - 138mm
Zygomatic width - 96mm
Jaw length - 108mm
Interorbital width - 26mm
Upper tooth row - 31mm

Collection Data
Stage - Adult
Area collected - Kansas
Source - Courtesy of a private collector