mountain beaver

American  

noun

1. a small, burrowing rodent, Aplodontia rufa, of the Pacific coastal region of North America, considered the most primitive living rodent.

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Etymology

Origin of mountain beaver

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Example Sentences

It lives on the mountain beaver, which is an abundant species, but it had not been photographed until recently.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 1, 2014

I shuddered, wondering if the mountain beaver might be calm because it was well armed and we were not.

From New York Times • Jul. 28, 2014

But the mountain beaver is considered the most ancient of rodents, and therefore is likely to carry among the most ancient of rodent fleas.

From New York Times • Jul. 28, 2014

Much to our surprise, the mountain beaver ambled agreeably from the trap into the bag.

From New York Times • Jul. 28, 2014

In addition to the above, marmots, mountain lions, wildcats, mountain beaver, coyotes, foxes, trade rats, and other animals are found in the park.

From Sequoia [California] National Park by United States. Dept. of the Interior