Animals that look like beavers include groundhogs (woodchucks), nutrias, muskrats, sea otters, American mink, capybaras, water voles, river otters, and porcupines.
Have you ever seen an animal and thought, “Wow, that looks just like a beaver!”?
Chances are, you’re not alone.
Beavers have a few distinct characteristics. But, there are many animals that share the same physical traits. This makes identification tricky, but not impossible.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at every beaver-like animal on the planet. From river otters to capybaras, these creatures all look like beavers.
Animals That Look Like Beavers
Beavers are some of the most easily recognizable animals in the world. These large, furry rodents are known for their impressive abilities as builders and their unique, flat tails.
While there are only two types of beavers, many other animals share the same characteristics.
Here are nine animals that look like beavers:
- Groundhog
- Nutria
- Muskrat
- Sea Otter
- American Mink
- Capybara
- Water vole
- River Otter
- Porcupine
1. Groundhog (Woodchuck)
| Scientific Name | Marmota monax |
| Common Name | Groundhog |
| Animal Class | Mammalia |
| Diet | Clover, grasses, dandelions, alfalfa |
| Habitat | Forest edges, open fields, meadows, streams, roads |
Groundhogs are small, burrowing animals that are members of the rodent family. They are native to North America and found in wooded areas near streams, rivers, lakes, and marshes.
They are also commonly known as woodchucks.
While they live on the ground (hence the name), groundhogs are excellent swimmers and climbers. They have been known to travel up to 16 miles in a single day.
Groundhogs have brown or grey fur, and they grow to be about two feet long. They have a stocky body and short legs, similar to the beaver. Their tails are short and thick, and their ears are small and rounded.
They are solitary animals and live in burrows they dig themselves.
2. Nutria
| Scientific Name | Myocastor coypus |
| Common Name | Nutria |
| Animal Class | Mammalia |
| Diet | Tubers, rhizomes, roots, salt meadows, cattails |
| Habitat | permanent water sources such as rivers, lakes, streams |
Nutria are often mistaken for them. They are a type of rodent, native to South America where the beaver isn’t found[1].
The nutria has become an invasive species in many parts of the world, as they have been introduced to new habitats by humans. They cause significant damage to their environment because they eat large amounts of vegetation.
They are also known to carry diseases that can be harmful to humans, such as leptospirosis.
If you see an animal that looks like a beaver, it is likely a nutria. They have orange teeth and large, webbed feet, like beavers. They grow to be quite large, reaching up to three feet in length.
While they are usually found near water, they are also capable of living in more arid environments.
3. Muskrat
| Scientific Name | Ondatra zibethicus |
| Common Name | muskrat |
| Animal Class | Mammalia |
| Diet | Aquatic vegetations such as cattails, water lilies, and sedges |
| Habitat | Wetlands such as swamps, lakes, marshes, ponds |
Muskrats look like beavers. They are a type of rodent, native to North America, living in many of the same places as beavers[2]. They are also known to carry diseases that can be harmful to humans, such as leptospirosis.
You can tell a muskrat apart from a beaver by its long tail. While beavers have wide, flat, rubbery tails, muskrats have long and slender tails. They are also much smaller than beavers.
4. Sea Otter
| Scientific Name | Enhydra lutris |
| Common Name | Sea otter |
| Animal Class | Mammalia |
| Diet | Sea urchins, snails, clams, mussels, abalone |
| Habitat | Coastal waters of the Coast Pacific |
The sea otter is a mammal that is found in the waters of the Pacific Ocean. It is related to the weasel family and its closest relatives are actually river otters. The scientific name for the sea otter is Enhydra lutris and it is the largest member of the weasel family.
Sea otters are considered interesting creatures by many and are well known for their thick fur. They have the densest fur of any animal in the world.
This fur helps to keep them warm in the cold waters where they live and also provides them with camouflage.
Sea otters are excellent swimmers and can reach speeds of up to nine miles per hour. They are also very good at diving and can stay underwater for up to five minutes at a time.
5. American Mink
| Scientific Name | Neovison vison |
| Common Name | American Mink |
| Animal Class | Mammalia |
| Diet | Muskrats, birds, frogs, crayfish, insects |
| Habitat | Near streams, rivers, marshes, lakes, coastlines |
American Minks are small, semi-aquatic animals that are members of the Mustelidae family[3]. This family also includes weasels, otters, and ferrets.
They are native to North America and can be found in wooded areas near streams, rivers, lakes, and marshes. Mink are excellent swimmers and climbers, and they have been known to travel up to 16 miles in a single day.
Mink are the size of a large house cat, with thick, glossy fur that is most commonly brown or black in color. Their bodies are long and slim, and they have short legs and webbed feet. They also have long, bushy tails.
They are very active animals, and they are known for their playful nature.
6. Capybara
| Scientific Name | Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris |
| Common Name | Capybara |
| Animal Class | Mammalia |
| Diet | Aquatic plants and grasses near watery shores |
| Habitat | Dense vegetation around lakes, ponds, rivers, swamps, marshes |
Capybara are the largest members of the rodents family. They are native to South America and can be found in woodlands, marshes, and savannas. Capybaras are excellent swimmers and can hold their breath for up to five minutes.
They have brown or reddish-brown fur, and they grow to be about four feet long. With a stocky body and short legs, they resemble the beaver.
Their tails distinguish them from beavers, as they are long and skinny. Their ears are also small and rounded.
The capybara is a social animal. They live in groups of up to 20 individuals.
7. Water Vole
| Scientific Name | Arvicola amphibius |
| Common Name | Water vole |
| Animal Class | Mammalia |
| Diet | Grasses and waterside vegetation |
| Habitat | Rivers, ditches, streams, ponds, lakes |
Water voles are small, semi-aquatic animals and part of the rodent family. They are native to Europe and can be found in woodlands, marshes, and meadows near streams, rivers, and lakes.
Water voles have brown or grey fur, and they grow to be about eight inches long. They have stocky bodies and short legs. Their tails are short and thick, and their ears are small and rounded.
They are much smaller than beavers and their tails are thinner, making them easy to distinguish.
8. River Otter
| Scientific Name | Lontra canadensis |
| Common Name | River Otter |
| Animal Class | Mammalia |
| Diet | Aquatic organisms such as frogs, fishes, crayfish, turtles |
| Habitat | Streams, lakes, rivers, marshes, ponds |
River otters are small, semi-aquatic animals that are members of the Mustelidae family. This family also includes weasels, mink, and ferrets.
They are native to North America and can be found in wooded areas near streams, rivers, lakes, and marshes.
River otters have brown or grey fur, and they grow to be about 2.5 feet long. They have a slim body and short legs, which is the best way to tell them apart from beavers. Their tails are also long and thick, and their ears are small and rounded.
9. Porcupine
| Scientific Name | Erethizon dorsatum |
| Common Name | Porcupine |
| Animal Class | Mammalia |
| Diet | Evergreen needles, inner bark of trees, berries, seeds, grass, stems, roots |
| Habitat | Coniferous and mixed forests |
Porcupines are animals that look somewhat like beavers but have the lowest resemblance on the list. They are found in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Porcupines are nocturnal animals and are mostly active at night.
Covered in quills, they stand out amongst the crowd. They use their long, sharp quills as a form of self-defense. When a porcupine feels threatened, it will raise its quills and make itself appear larger.
If that doesn’t work, the porcupine will lash out with its quills.
Porcupines are herbivores and their diet consists mostly of plants and leaves. They mate in the winter and the female gives birth to one or two babies, called “porcupettes”. Baby porcupines are born with soft quills which harden within a few hours.
FAQs
What Is the Animal That Looks Like a Beaver Without the Tail?
The animal that looks like a beaver without a tail is the capybara. Capybaras are native to South America and are found in woodlands, marshes, and savannas. They are social animals that live in groups of up to 20 individuals. Their fur is similar to that of a beaver, being brown or reddish-brown.
What Is the Animal That Looks Like a Beaver With a Bushy Tail?
The animal that looks like a beaver with a bushy tail is the groundhog. Groundhogs are native to North America and can be found in wooded areas near streams, rivers, lakes, and marshes. They show the most resemblance to beavers out of all animals.
What Type of Animal Is a Beaver?
Beavers are large, semiaquatic rodents that are members of the family Castoridae. They are native to North America, Europe, and Asia. Beavers are known for their dams, which they build using sticks and mud. Beavers are excellent swimmers and can stay submerged for up to 15 minutes. They have webbed feet and a waterproof coat of fur.
How Does a Beaver Look Like?
Beavers have brown or reddish-brown fur, and they grow to be about four feet long. They have stocky bodies and short legs. Their tails are long and skinny, and their ears are small and rounded. They have webbed feet and a waterproof coat of fur. Beavers mate for life and the female gives birth to two to four kits per year.
What Does a Beaver Tail Look Like?
A beaver’s tail is long, flat, and rubbery. The tail is used as a rudder when the beaver is swimming, and it also stores fat. This fat acts as an energy reserve for the beaver, and it helps to keep the beaver warm in the winter.v
