What kind of beaver is right for you?

The Giant Beaver (Castoroides ohioensis) was a huge species of rodent, with a length up to 2.5 m (8.2 feet)^[1] and an estimated weight of 60-100 kg (130-220 lbs); past estimates went up to 220 kg (485 lbs).^[2] It lived in North America during the Pleistocene epoch, and went extinct at the end of the last Ice Age, 10,000 years ago.

One of the important anatomical differences between the Giant Beaver and modern beaver species, besides size, is the structure of their teeth. Modern beavers have chisel-like incisor teeth for gnawing on wood. The teeth of the Giant Beaver are bigger and broader, and grew to about 15 centimeters (6 inches) long.^[3] In addition, the tail of the Giant Beaver must have been longer but narrower, and its hind legs shorter.^[1] Its great bulk might have restricted its movement on land (although large squat-legged hippopotamuses can move on land with little difficulty).

I hope you enjoyed my test. For those of you who were expecting to see something else. I don't know what to tell you. Afterall, I told you at the very beginning this was to see what kind of beaver you like. I suggest reading more carefully next time.

Information and Pictures curtsey of the beaver wikipedia entry.