The beaver is a mammalian animal that belongs to the order of rodents : those species that have very sharp incisor teeth that they use to gnaw wood, eat and defend themselves. Beavers are characterized by their flattened tail that is covered with scales; its short legs that have feet with five toes; and her fine hair.
These animals live in regions of Europe , America and Asia , always in the northern hemisphere. However, there are communities that have settled in southern Argentina, where they were introduced by man .
Beavers are noted for their ability to build homes in lakes , streams and rivers . For this they develop dams that block the flow of water and create the so-called beaver houses with wood that they obtain from the trees thanks to their incisors. The dams built by beavers contribute to flood control and promote the development of wetlands.
It is possible to differentiate between three species of beaver. The American beaver is the largest rodent in the northern hemisphere. The European beaver is smaller than the American beaver and is protected to prevent its disappearance. Extinction , in fact, is what wiped out the third known species of beaver, the Kellogg's .
The Kellogg's beaver, whose scientific name was Castor californicus , lived in the western United States from the late Miocene to the early Pleistocene, geological periods spanning more than twenty million years and ending approximately two million years ago. . This species had many similarities with the American beaver, although its size was larger. Like the other members of its genus, it was semi-aquatic. Its fossils were found in the Mexican state of Sonora and in various parts of North America, such as the states of Idaho, Washington, California and Nebraska.
The decline in beaver populations is linked to human exploitation of their skins, which were highly valued decades ago. Castoreum is also sold, a substance secreted by beavers to care for their hair. This liquid is usually used in the manufacture of perfumes and as an additive to certain foods.
As a proper name, we find this word in several concepts. For example, it is a North American village found in the state of Louisiana, more precisely in the parish of Bienville. Until 2010, a census showed that its population was only 258 inhabitants. Since it is located in the southeast of the country, its climate is favorable and very pleasant for those who want to avoid extreme temperatures.
In 1969, on the other hand, a sounding rocket named Castor A was manufactured in Argentina, a two-stage vehicle that has four single-stage rockets, model Canopus II . The Indian Institute of Space Engineering (whose original name in English is Indian Institute of Aircraft Engineering ) was in charge of its manufacturing. Broadly speaking, we can say that its length was 7 meters, its diameter was 28 centimeters, its total mass was 300 kilograms and its apogee was 400 kilometers.
With an accent on the a , Castor is a star belonging to the constellation of Gemini. In particular, it is known for being the second brightest of this group, preceded by Pollux, together with which the duo of twins is formed that gives rise to the name of the constellation, since Gemini is the Latin term for "the twins." Regarding the name of the star itself, they chose it because it designated one of the two twins in Greek mythology called Dioscuri , the other of whom was, precisely, Pollux.