In the wild , spot between animals like beavers , mink , and muskrat fur can be challenging due to their exchangeable appearances and habitats . Understanding the decided characteristics of a beaver , such as its declamatory stocky dead body , chocolate-brown - yellow coat , and flat rear , is essential for distinction . While these animals may share resemblance , identify their unparalleled features helps tell them in their natural home ground .
Different Types of Animals that Look Like Beavers
Marmots
Members of the genus Marmota , marmots are find in both North America and Europe . Their brown or greyish fur gives them the show of gigantic undercoat squirrels , and they have the potential to gain beaver proportions . Like beaver , marmot dig burrow beneath the surface of the world for refuge and breeding . marmot have less rounded features , shorter pelt , and no tails , in contrast to topper .
Muskrats
The vulgar gnawer in North America , Ondatra zibethica ( Ondatra zibethicus ) , are similar in size and shape to beavers , but they have hairless , rat - corresponding tails and fur coats that are either brown or black . Muskrats , as opposed to beavers , live in wetland such as marshes and swampland , choosing to dig tunnel in their swampy environments instead of ramp up Lodge .
Neotropical river otter
In addition to Trinidad , the Neotropical River Otter ( Lontra longicaudis ) is find throughout cardinal and South America . They are much smaller than beavers , having web feet and round tails , weigh just 10–12 kg as adults . Beavers and neotropical river otters take issue significantly in size , even with these commonalities .
North American river otter
Waterways all around North America are home to the North American River Otter ( Lontra canadensis ) . They resemble beavers in several ways , such as having webbed feet and a circular seat , but they are much tiny , weighing just 5–10 kilo as adults . Even so , there are exonerated sizing dispute between beavers and river otters in North America .
Nutria
Large rodent native to South America called Myocastor coypus ( Myocastor coypus ) have been import to many parts of the earth . Their disconsolate or reddish - brown fur and longer , hairless tails give them a top hat - like appearance . Eurasian otters be in lakes , river , and marshes , although their bodies are tenacious than those of beavers . Conversely , beavers progress their lodge in rivers and flow , foreground differences in bionomical and physical characteristics .
Quokka
Quokkas ( Setonix brachyurus ) are little Australian marsupials that live in the same home ground as koalas and kangaroos . Quokkas are little , haired animals that resemble domestic cat-o'-nine-tails . They eat gage , leaves , and shoot . Their characteristic smile and small height may indicate a distant resemblance to beaver , but there are some pregnant distinctions between the two species , like the way of life marsupials procreate and their food choices .
Southern river otter
aboriginal to Chile and Argentina , the Southern River Otter ( Lontra provocax ) can grow to a maximal length of four fundament . They have browned fur similar to beaver ’ , webbed fundament , and a long , taper tail . When it comes to look and dental structure , Southern River Otters differ from beavers in that they have sharper teeth and short , rounder tails .
The Capybara
Heavy - place gnawer from South America , the Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris ( Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris ) can grow to be over four feet recollective and matter as much as 150 pound sterling . These semi - aquatic animals hold out near bodies of water , such as rivers and lake . They have brown fur standardized to beaver , web groundwork , and a short keister . Although capybaras and beavers resemble each other in appearance , capybaras have partially web toes for proficient swimming , whilst beavers have fully net feet and are better on demesne .
Woodchucks
The enceinte squirrel in the eastern United States are groundhog , or Marmota monax as they are officially called . They can spring up to be over two feet long . They have orotund claw , brusk legs , and full-bodied consistence . They also have shaggy-haired , flat can and brown fur with a noticeablewhite stripedown their book binding . These skilled swimmers live alone in surround near to streams or pool , where they scrounge forvegetables , pasturage , and leaves during the twenty-four hour period .
American Mink
With the exception of the Southwest , the American mink coat ( Neovison vison ) is a tiny , semi - aquatic mammal native to North America . They are members of the weasel family and have short limb and a supple build . Their bottom are usuallywhite and they are usually brownish or dark . With their sharp claw , they are excellent at moil and hunting , and they can plunk for up to six bit .
Giant Otter
bombastic semiaquatic mammals native to South America , the Giant Otter ( Pteronura brasiliensis ) can grow to a maximum length of 6 feet and a maximal weight unit of 77 pound sign . They have web feet , sleek body , and brown or reddish - brown hair . They are members of the weasel family . They are skilled swimmer and can persist submersed for up to two minutes .
Groundhogs
The scientific name forgroundhogsis Marmota monax , and they are receive in the easterly and key United States , as well as in Alaska and Canada . Often called woodchucks , they are members of the squirrel household and have characteristic in unwashed with beaver fur , like short legs and robust trunk . Beavers build lodge and decameter , but they do not excavate tunnel ; groundhog , on the other hand , are excellent at creating tunnel for asylum and evoke youthful .
Lesser Capybara
standardized to a large hamster , the Lesser Capybara ( Hydrochoerus isthmius ) is aboriginal to eastern Panama , northwest Colombia , and western Venezuela . It share impregnable kinship with guinea pigs . They have unretentive browned pelt with a ruby - brownish undercoat , grow to be about 4 feet foresighted , and weigh about 100 pounds . They use their long ass for swimming . By nature , they are herbivores , consuming fruits , folio , and grass .
Marine otter
With its thick fur serve as insulation against the cold Pacific ocean , the Marine Otter ( Lontra felina ) is a mintage find along the coast of Chile and Peru . They have flat tails and web feet , just like beavers . Though they have some morphologic similarities with beavers , maritime otters do not have the stiff teeth needed for tree gnaw at . This argue that they dally unlike ecological purpose .
