Beaver & Rodent Fossils

Beavers first appeared some 24 Million years ago.  Earlier Rodents appeared some 56 Million years ago.  Rodents diversified during the Eocene period, as did most of the small, and at the time somewhat insignificant mammals, because of the opportunity afforded to them by the KT event, where the dinosaurs became extinct. This allowed the evolution of the mammals and rodents.  All rodents have distinctive dentition, chisel like incisors, which are sharpened during feeding.