Castoreum
Related Category: Vertebrate Zoology
see beaver.
More on Castoreum
Beaver - either of two large aquatic rodents, Castor fiber and Castor canadensis, known for their engineering feats.
Beavers have a pair of anal scent glands, called castors, which secrete a musk-like substance called castoreum. This is used mainly for marking territories.
The beaver waterproofs its thick fur by coating it with castoreum, an oily secretion from its scent glands. The beaver has a thick layer of fat under its skin that helps keep it warm underwater.
Castoreum is a substance contained in two pear-shaped pouches situated near the organs of reproduction, of a bitter taste and slightly foetid odour, at one time largely employed as a medicine, but now used only in perfumery.
Genus Castor, Family Castoridae, Order Rodentia, Rodent, Castoreum, Aquatic
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The beavers have 2 anal glands that secrete a castoreum oil. This oil has a musk odor and is deposited on the scent mounds. The oil is also used to grease the beaver's fur coat to make it water repellent.
Beavers on the Comeback: The European Beaver (Castor fiber) was hunted almost to extinction in Europe, both for fur, and for castoreum, a secretion of its scent gland believed to have medicinal properties.
The musk-like substance produced by the castor glands is known as castoreum.
Beavers will also warn others of danger by slapping their tails against the water, creating a powerful noise.
They deposit anal secretions and a strong-smelling substance called castoreum on rocks and mud throughout their territories. Beavers warn each other of danger by slapping their tails violently on the water surface.
 See also: Beaver, American Beaver, Capybara, Coyote, Burro
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