When Beavers Grew to the Size of Bears

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  • čas přidán 16. 07. 2024
  • Rodents are the most successful group of mammals making up around half of all mammalian species. They owe this success to being very intelligent, having opportunistic diets but also their small size as it allows them to reproduce incredibly quickly. But in the not to distant there are examples of rodents that grew to massive sizes competing with the large animals in their ecosystem. Not many animals demonstrate this like Casteroides a beaver that could grow to the size of a small bear.
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    Sources:
    www.nature.com/articles/s4159...
    www.researchgate.net/publicat...
    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
    link.springer.com/article/10....
    www.cmnh.org/CMNH/media/CMNH_...

Komentáře • 393

  • @zooker7938
    @zooker7938 Před rokem +602

    I love it when things that aren't hippos evolve into hippos.

  • @joevdb9232
    @joevdb9232 Před rokem +45

    yoooo beavers

  • @b.a.erlebacher1139
    @b.a.erlebacher1139 Před rokem +275

    Beaver dams can be impressively large, but many are really poorly designed. I saw one once that almost crossed an approx 2m rivulet, then turned downstream for 4-5m. Research has shown that they use a very simple algorithm: when you hear water trickling, dump sticks and mud on top until it stops. They will do this to a tape player with a tape of trickling water. Btw, they build dams not only to get deep enough water for lodges, but to extend the water to trees they want to fell, so they can escape to the water if disturbed, and float chunks of branches to the lodge for winter feed.

    • @stevenkies802
      @stevenkies802 Před rokem +29

      Perhaps dam building started with beavers using natural debris piles as shelter and a food source that they began repairing. From there the behavior could have expanded to extending cavities to hibernate in. Finally, the repair and extension of naturally occurring dams could have transition creation of new dams.

    • @Charlie-mn5fw
      @Charlie-mn5fw Před rokem

      Yeah those stupid idiot beavers are horrible engineers

    • @redhammer5783
      @redhammer5783 Před rokem +26

      I agree most look like they were built by an amateur, but some actually look almost human in there shape. I seen a beaver dam once wedged between rock cliffs on both sides it kinda looked like the hoover dam, Was 25-30 ft tall atleast. i was very impressed it was the first time i seen rocks used in beaver dams.

    • @whoeveriam0iam14222
      @whoeveriam0iam14222 Před rokem +16

      it could have been washed out by a flood and then repaired where most of the debris ended up
      they're not necessarily planning ahead. just stuffing the hole
      they also won't use old sticks. if you remove a beaver dam they'll source new sticks even if you put the old sticks right next to where you removed the dam (thx Post10)

    • @xlimey2k12
      @xlimey2k12 Před rokem +14

      @@redhammer5783 homie they are literally beavers

  • @wesleywatson2009
    @wesleywatson2009 Před rokem +270

    I love how relaxing and entertaining this channel is

  • @ziltoid420
    @ziltoid420 Před rokem +53

    As a Canadian I need this.

    • @FeeshUnofficial
      @FeeshUnofficial Před rokem +8

      You already have geese, meese and Quebecoise, do you really want another menace?

    • @stevenkies802
      @stevenkies802 Před rokem +3

      @@FeeshUnofficial Those aren't menaces, those are national treasures. Spoken a proud Quebecoise.

    • @FeeshUnofficial
      @FeeshUnofficial Před rokem +1

      @@stevenkies802 ah well you see: French (I am biased, I am European)

    • @stevenkies802
      @stevenkies802 Před rokem +1

      @@FeeshUnofficial No problem. Actually Quebecoise are a bit distinct from European French due to intermarriage with native Americans.

    • @FeeshUnofficial
      @FeeshUnofficial Před rokem +1

      @@stevenkies802 yeah that's true. And you're not from France, which also helps. Bit unfortunate you're technically British though (you're part of the British empire)

  • @grimreaper9350
    @grimreaper9350 Před rokem +123

    Definitely interested in hearing about more animals from the ice age like the larger Jaguars. Thanks for the video!

  • @TheJohtunnBandit
    @TheJohtunnBandit Před rokem +32

    0:28 There is a house in the tree line, these beavers clearly built nicer homes than their modern counterpart

  • @veggieboyultimate
    @veggieboyultimate Před rokem +133

    If Castoroides were able to build dams, they would probably be able to build them as big as most human dams.

    • @SquintyGears
      @SquintyGears Před rokem +27

      Have you ever visited a hydro electric facility? I'm not sure where exactly the average dam size lands but considering how massive we build those it has to bring it up quite a bit.

    • @quintenwhyte6660
      @quintenwhyte6660 Před rokem +10

      God Damn!!!!😯😯

    • @Jake-zk3eb
      @Jake-zk3eb Před rokem +13

      Don't think so, there's a limit to what wood and mud can do.

    • @Jake-zk3eb
      @Jake-zk3eb Před rokem +8

      @Brandon Letzco then you can say that beavers of today can build human size dams

    • @antitorpiliko
      @antitorpiliko Před rokem +3

      @Brandon Letzco fax

  • @spaghettiyolo7778
    @spaghettiyolo7778 Před rokem +80

    No matter what species or group is talked about on this channel, your content is of excellent quality and very fun to watch, keep it up!

  • @omfgstrid
    @omfgstrid Před rokem +8

    Imagine modern beavers having legends about Casteroides the way we have legends about giants and monsters and such

  • @Captain_Gargoyle
    @Captain_Gargoyle Před rokem +16

    I just love hearing about ancient animals that were similar to ones we have today.
    Like we're all used to house cats being the same sort of animal as a lion but it's always cool to hear that something like a beaver used to have a relative the size of a bison.

  • @goldeninnos3411
    @goldeninnos3411 Před rokem +31

    there are a lot of similar channels on YT but yours is the best mr moth man . always on topic and well present with nice visuals

  • @dinohall2595
    @dinohall2595 Před rokem +13

    I voted in a poll for Castoroides to be the state fossil of my home state of Minnesota last year. I doubt the legislators care enough to go through the trouble of passing it into law (even though basically every other state has a state fossil), but it would be awesome if they do.

    • @AifDaimon
      @AifDaimon Před rokem

      Expect nothing less from such sedentary desk-bound humanoid PIGS

  • @wolfgang313i3
    @wolfgang313i3 Před rokem +16

    Fantastic video, I love these focused single species discussions

  • @meatlove6620
    @meatlove6620 Před rokem +4

    Gonna sleep soundly to the thought of giant Capybaras roaming my backyard at some point in time.

    • @stevenkies802
      @stevenkies802 Před rokem +1

      But imagine the hats we could make!

    • @tadblackington1676
      @tadblackington1676 Před rokem +2

      Giant, at least larger than living, capybaras did roam the southern areas of North America at the same time as the giant beavers.

    • @chheinrich8486
      @chheinrich8486 Před rokem +1

      Where do you live, they only roamed south america ?

    • @meatlove6620
      @meatlove6620 Před rokem

      @@chheinrich8486 Paraguay 🇵🇾

    • @chheinrich8486
      @chheinrich8486 Před rokem

      @@meatlove6620 greetings from germany 🇩🇪

  • @austinhinton3944
    @austinhinton3944 Před rokem +6

    As an Ohioan, I can confirm we do have big beavers here.

  • @blistlelo1700
    @blistlelo1700 Před rokem +1

    Imagine being chased by a giant angry beaver in the wood! That would be a cool cryptid told by drunk woodcutters around the fireplace

  • @malthesse
    @malthesse Před rokem +6

    It's so fascinating to think about all of the amazing animals that the early humans in North America encountered. Not just these cool giant beavers, but also mammoths, mastodons, giant sloths, stag-moose, saber-toothed cats, American lions, American cheetahs, dire wolves and so many others. So sad that they all went extinct before our own time.

    • @vanillarpgsoundtracks
      @vanillarpgsoundtracks Před rokem +1

      Yes largely do to the comet impact at the end of the ice age and the subsequent climate, flooding, fires and insane landscape change that followed. It's insane.

  • @rl9217
    @rl9217 Před rokem +4

    “Well would you look at all this water in need of a large semi aquatic herbivore. Time to become Mighty Mouse.”
    -The prehistoric extinct rodents of north and South America

  • @ethanross1506
    @ethanross1506 Před rokem +8

    Great video as always but I noticed you included a few different shots of nutrias and not beavers.

  • @Hillman702
    @Hillman702 Před rokem +8

    Really nice video! But you often showed nutrias while talking about beavers. Which are also semi aquatic but not closely related to beavers. But that’s the only thing I can point out. I really enjoy your videos keep it up!!

  • @crunchylettuce5446
    @crunchylettuce5446 Před rokem +9

    Could you talk about a prehistoric insect/other bug? I love hearing about those, especially the giant ones that used to rule the air.

  • @zedperez8370
    @zedperez8370 Před rokem

    Finally another video. The month of waiting's worth it. Would love to see more of this

  • @opposumness3107
    @opposumness3107 Před rokem +3

    Few videos bring me such calmness and joy like yours, Moth. And I learned that rodents count for a whopping half of all the mammalian species. Thats a lot.
    Thanks for the entertaining knowledge.

  • @jacobdarling4172
    @jacobdarling4172 Před rokem +5

    I love and respect your videos thank you

  • @_Solaris
    @_Solaris Před rokem

    One of the best channels of this type on YT.

  • @sethblandford2805
    @sethblandford2805 Před rokem +6

    I would love to see a video about cubas strange wildlife in history such as the barn owl who was the size of an eagle and couldn’t fly or the giant snakes

  • @ragnarlothbrok4281
    @ragnarlothbrok4281 Před rokem

    I just thought about these the other day. Thanks for posting!

  • @nathanhester1155
    @nathanhester1155 Před rokem +1

    Always excited to watch.

  • @Grubgotkicked
    @Grubgotkicked Před rokem

    You're such a legend, i love all of your stuff. Thank you for making it.

  • @maxb1985
    @maxb1985 Před rokem +1

    Your videos are always incredibly interesting. Great job again.

  • @JJ-oq3tz
    @JJ-oq3tz Před rokem +6

    Castoroides also known as the giant beaver, is an extinct genus of the enormous bear-sized beavers that lived in North America during the Pliesocene.

  • @obibraxton2232
    @obibraxton2232 Před rokem +1

    Keep it up I wait eagerly for your uploads very educational and in a way that’s easy and intriguing to learn my

  • @kimbratton9620
    @kimbratton9620 Před rokem +2

    Yeah a new episode!!😁

  • @MrSuperbia
    @MrSuperbia Před rokem +10

    Trogontherium was actually similar in size to the modern beaver, but had a relatively large head. Because the head was one of the first things they found, they assumed the beaver must have been gigantic. So European Giant Beaver is a bit of a misnomer for the Trogontherium.

    • @chheinrich8486
      @chheinrich8486 Před rokem

      But still at least 2 to 3 Times the size of eurasian beavers

  • @the_audsquad661
    @the_audsquad661 Před rokem

    Excellent video thank you for the content!!

  • @sassa82
    @sassa82 Před rokem +3

    I love beavers!

  • @limitbreakeradam4076
    @limitbreakeradam4076 Před rokem

    Finally you put the human in for size reference! Thanks so much for that!

  • @Jopmasselink
    @Jopmasselink Před rokem

    I looked forward to a new video upload. Nice!

  • @fearfully3496
    @fearfully3496 Před rokem

    LOVE your videos!

  • @lesliesylvan
    @lesliesylvan Před rokem

    Thank you for this informative video

  • @memofromessex
    @memofromessex Před rokem +2

    I thought the giant beaver died out in the 80s, I think I saw one on a German language film on VHS my friend's dad kept in the attic.

  • @SkankHunt-yo5on
    @SkankHunt-yo5on Před rokem

    I absolutely love your channel, btw.
    Sincerely.

  • @Zveebo
    @Zveebo Před rokem +1

    You’re the very best palaeontology channel on CZcams, MLM 👍 - that is all.

  • @SsjRedneck
    @SsjRedneck Před rokem +2

    Mom, there's a new moth light media video!!

  • @Machingonjoe
    @Machingonjoe Před rokem

    Excellent video

  • @aum3.146
    @aum3.146 Před rokem +1

    Excellent

  • @LudosErgoSum
    @LudosErgoSum Před rokem +7

    Imagine being able to say you're an expert on massive beavers😏

  • @beastinfection638
    @beastinfection638 Před rokem +2

    fascinating video as always! giant beavers would have been terrifying

  • @fabriciomanuel8775
    @fabriciomanuel8775 Před rokem

    I love this channel

  • @edwardfischer2628
    @edwardfischer2628 Před rokem

    Finally another vid!!❤

  • @jorgerangel2390
    @jorgerangel2390 Před rokem

    Interesting as always

  • @Herr_Lobter
    @Herr_Lobter Před rokem +3

    You should put stickers on your channel shop if possible, would love to have some and support the channel! Love your videos! Very interesting content. Keep up the great work!

  • @PsilocybinIsUnderrated
    @PsilocybinIsUnderrated Před rokem +2

    Nice new Video

  • @TheDigli
    @TheDigli Před rokem

    Verry nice as always :)

  • @DJP1997
    @DJP1997 Před rokem

    Love the channel! We need an explanation for porcupines next lol

  • @whitewolf3051
    @whitewolf3051 Před rokem +2

    *Imagine* if they didn't go extinct, they *could* tamed and be ridden.

  • @Keklan572
    @Keklan572 Před rokem +1

    As a kid I was obsessed with beavers. I want one of these as a pet now.

  • @austinhornbeck5060
    @austinhornbeck5060 Před rokem +1

    You telling me the giant beavers from ark wouldn't actually have dams full of wood, pearls, flowers and cementing paste :p

  • @johnnyv1982
    @johnnyv1982 Před rokem

    Good video

  • @ibadullahtahir7541
    @ibadullahtahir7541 Před rokem +1

    now i like this channel

  • @stax6092
    @stax6092 Před rokem +1

    Awesome.

  • @quest4rings400
    @quest4rings400 Před rokem +4

    Ark taught me not to steal cementing paste from these mofos

  • @boiboi505
    @boiboi505 Před rokem

    I especially love when they leave cementing paste in their dam, good for making my tame saddles

  • @u12bdragon
    @u12bdragon Před rokem

    I love when mlm releases a new video. I genuinely stop whatever I'm doing.

  • @bkjeong4302
    @bkjeong4302 Před rokem +2

    This animal would actually have benefitted from a warming climate, given its dependence on shallow, vegetated habitats; North America-and the world as a whole-actually became WETTER overall (outside of the Southwest), with increased precipitation, due to the end of the last ice age, thus actually INCREASING available Casteroides habitat.

  • @pozzowon
    @pozzowon Před rokem +1

    4:25 the giant chigüire!

  • @sandro5535
    @sandro5535 Před rokem

    Even regular sized Beavers can make lethal bites with their strong jaws. Imagine the bite force of a beaver that size. Bet even bears thought twice before engaging in combat.

  • @jabbarmuhammad8804
    @jabbarmuhammad8804 Před rokem +2

    Castaroides a unique prehistoric animal very interesting

  • @bazpearce9993
    @bazpearce9993 Před rokem

    Thanks for reminding me of a funny user name on a game i play. Massive Beaver lol.

  • @HkFinn83
    @HkFinn83 Před rokem

    Dam, what a beaver!

  • @Uniqueusername2
    @Uniqueusername2 Před rokem +2

    Oh hell yeah

  • @phdtobe
    @phdtobe Před rokem +1

    Maybe those extinct bear-sized beavers should be called “bearvers”. 😉

  • @Tu_Kivensito_Bombon
    @Tu_Kivensito_Bombon Před rokem +1

    Nice video, although there was a moment when you showed a Myocastor coypus instead of a Beaver.

  • @musicdcguy1
    @musicdcguy1 Před rokem

    Beavers are my favorite animal!

  • @Gamerafighter76
    @Gamerafighter76 Před 10 měsíci

    Man, did Ark get it wrong; it’s still a cool Megafauna, though. I’ve been into all these ancient creature since I was little; it’s awesome you put these vids out.

  • @JuicyJam
    @JuicyJam Před rokem

    DRINKING GAME!!!
    Take a sip of your drink when there is:
    - a time lineage
    - a genetic tree
    - a new illustration
    - a size comparison
    Take a shot when:
    - the narrator says "however"

  • @jointgib
    @jointgib Před rokem

    nice beaver

  • @kaflinglinglingping3982
    @kaflinglinglingping3982 Před rokem +1

    Beaver be chomping amen my brother

  • @a-cat-on-a-soup-can
    @a-cat-on-a-soup-can Před rokem

    Canadians are about to have a blast with this one

  • @Kroggnagch
    @Kroggnagch Před rokem

    These guys are awesome in the game Ark

  • @joshuagraham9217
    @joshuagraham9217 Před rokem

    This was dam interesting.

  • @froglobster
    @froglobster Před rokem +1

    Wynona had a big brown beaver
    And she showed it off to all her friends

  • @jayvillemin
    @jayvillemin Před rokem +4

    Hell yeah beavers! I live in Oregon, where our state animal is the beaver, and I went to Oregon State University, whose mascot is the beaver. Love those funky little lumberjacks

  • @Meloehunter
    @Meloehunter Před rokem

    Great video but lots of clips of muskrats and coypu when you were talking about beavers.

  • @kuitaranheatmorus9932

    *TheGamingBeaver* but yes this video was really cool and I really enjoyed this
    Hope u have a good day

  • @syafiqjabar
    @syafiqjabar Před rokem

    Yo mama must have been around in the Ice Age because that's the only time there were bear-sized beavers.

  • @BMTH2296
    @BMTH2296 Před rokem

    For a second, I read the title as, “when beavers grew to the size of beavers.” And I just went, “wat.”😂

  • @A_itsar
    @A_itsar Před rokem

    These beaver can dam an ocean

  • @bronkobjama3154
    @bronkobjama3154 Před rokem

    6:30 damn. Really pulled out the dental records

  • @KarlBunker
    @KarlBunker Před rokem

    I want one of these.

  • @connorhauss6044
    @connorhauss6044 Před rokem

    I’ve seen beavers swimming over 4 foot long. Massive trees that have been downed by a beaver at least 4 feet up the tree. There’s still some big fucking beavers out there that I wouldn’t want to mess with

  • @istvansipos9940
    @istvansipos9940 Před rokem +3

    08:15 knowing our skills, I consider the same space time a very conclusive piece of evidence. If we shared any habitat with them, we sure did hunt them. In pre-history, it would have been silly and wasteful not to.
    great video

    • @fredd3.14
      @fredd3.14 Před rokem

      there is more conclusive evidence for a non-human induced extriction event for the younger dryas boundary (end of last ice age). humans numbered some 5-10 million people over the entire world, while there were many more millions of megafauna, bears and mammoth species the size of houses. it is more likely the clovis people that went exctinct around the same time suffered some similar fate to this megafauna, be it volcanic or meteor impact that caused massive floods. the "overkill" hypothesis just makes no sense with new evidence these days.

  • @foxycraft1234
    @foxycraft1234 Před rokem +1

    Heard these guys make a lot of cement might've been useful for those cavemen living near metal

  • @bananabread1110
    @bananabread1110 Před rokem

    will you make a video about Spinosaurus ? They are my favorite dinosaur I'm obsessed with them !

  • @timmorton8918
    @timmorton8918 Před rokem

    day off AND Moth Light?!

  • @sarahmartinez6203
    @sarahmartinez6203 Před rokem

    “Rodents of unusual size? I don’t think they exist”

  • @TheVincet33
    @TheVincet33 Před rokem +1

    EVERY time : "this specie existed for milions of years but disapered as soon as human arrived, but it is not sure how they went extinct" COME ON !

  • @zappatton2
    @zappatton2 Před rokem +1

    Rodents of Unusual Size? I don't believe they exist.

  • @mikesvideosofbeavers
    @mikesvideosofbeavers Před rokem +1

    Very cool video. Beavers are so very interesting and important. ❤️🦫❤️🦫❤️🦫❤️