Beaver biology
This pages are still under construction and will be gradually completed. Please be patient.
| Characteristics Castor fiber | |
| body mass | up to 35 kg |
| head-body length HBL | between 1.00 - 1.20 m |
| tail length | between 30 - 34 cm |
| Diet |
herbivore; bark during the winter |
| life expectancy |
8 years on average in the field (20 years max.) |
| sexual maturity | from 3 years on |
| social unit |
family group; parents and up to 2 generations of kits |
|
social system (spatial structure) |
territorial |
| mating system |
monogamous (partly polygamous) |
| mating season | January - April |
| gestation period | 100 - 110 days |
| litters per year | 1 |
| main breeding season | May |
| litter size | 2.9 pubs on average |
| birth weight | between 500 - 700 g |
| HBL on birth | between 30 - 35 cm |
| birth of the pubs |
able to see and fully covered with hair |
Overall table of contents
- Systematics and evolution of the beaver
- Morphology and anatomy of the beaver
- Development of the pubs
- Habitat
- Diet
- Building behaviour of the beaver
- Social behaviour of the beaver
- Literature
Overall table of contents Next chapter >>