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Walruses are large, flippered marine mammals that live in the Arctic regions of the world. They are known for their distinctive tusks, which are actually elongated canine teeth. Walruses feed on clams, snails, and other small creatures that they find on the ocean floor. They use their tusks to dig through the sediment and their sensitive whiskers to locate prey. Walruses are also excellent swimmers and can dive to depths of up to 300 feet. They use their flippers to propel themselves through the water and their blubber to stay warm in cold temperatures. Walruses are social animals and can often be found resting in large groups on ice floes or sandy beaches.
Wild Animals
Classification and Physical Characteristics of Walruses
A walrus’s tusks may reach two feet long and weigh up to 12 pounds.
Jeff Foott/Getty Images
Walruses belong to the order Pinnepedia, which also includes seals and sea lions. They are the second largest animals in this order, with only the elephant seal growing larger. Walruses are known for their long tusks, which are actually two upper canines that can grow up to 3 feet long and weigh 12 pounds. Their family name, Obodenidae, means tooth-walker in Greek, referring to their ability to pull themselves out of the water by hooking their tusks into the ice.
Contrary to popular belief, walruses do not use their tusks as weapons, but primarily as tools for various tasks and for establishing dominance. The thick skin around their neck and shoulders protect them from sharp jabs. They use their tusks to haul themselves out of the water and to break breathing holes in the ice. They may even use their tusks as hooks to rest when swimming. Both males and females have tusks, but males have longer, straighter, and stronger tusks that may continue to grow for up to 15 years.
Walruses are generally darkish brown in color and have large, round bodies. They appear clumsy on land but are agile in water, where they spend two-thirds of their lives. They have four flippers with rough bottoms that help them move on slippery snow and ice. On land, they use their two front flippers and two rear flippers to move. In the water, they can swim up to 21.7 mph (35 kph). Their front flippers are used for steering and their hind flippers alternate strokes to propel them at an average speed of 4.3 mph (7 kph).
Walrus Subspecies and Distribution
There are two subspecies of walruses: the Atlantic walrus and the Pacific walrus. They are geographically and reproductively isolated, meaning they do not interbreed or interact in any way. The two subspecies are similar except for size.
- Male Pacific walruses usually grow to between 9 and 12 feet (2.7-3.6 m) and weigh between 1,764 pounds and 3,748 pounds (800-1700 kg). Females grow to lengths between 7.5 feet and 10 feet (2.3-3.1 m) and weigh between 400 pounds and 1,250 pounds (882kg-2756 kg).
- Atlantic males are a bit smaller at 9.5 feet (2.9 m) and 2,000 pounds (908 kg). Females are shorter but fatter at about eight feet (2.4 m) and 1,750 pounds (794 kg).
Walruses are located throughout the arctic region. The Pacific walrus is found in the Bering, Chuckchi, and Laptev seas of the Pacific Ocean, while the Atlantic walrus is found in the Atlantic Ocean primarily along the northeast coasts of Canada and in Greenland. There are roughly 250,000 walruses in existence today, with 200,000 of these being Pacific stock. More information is known about the Pacific walrus due to sheer numbers and funding issues.
The image depicts the distribution of the different walrus subspecies such as the Pacific, Atlantic, and Laptev. Additionally, it shows the migratory path of Pacific walrus. Marcus Williams, from HowStuffWorks, authored this map.
In the succeeding page, you will discover how a walrus’s mustache can complement its eyesight and why its eating habits could make it a strong contender in a competitive eating competition.
A group of scientists proposed that there is a third walrus subspecies, which they named Laptev walrus, found in the Laptev Sea near Siberia. Its skull is similar to the Pacific walrus, and its body size is in between that of Atlantic and Pacific. However, experts have conflicting views on whether this walrus should be classified as a subcategory, so it has not been officially accepted.
FAQ
1. What are walruses?
Walruses are large marine mammals that belong to the family Odobenidae. They are known for their distinctive tusks, which are elongated canine teeth that can grow up to 3 feet (1 meter) in length. Walruses are found in the Arctic regions of Canada, Greenland, Russia, and Alaska, and they spend most of their time in the water.
2. How do walruses survive in cold water?
Walruses are able to survive in cold water thanks to their thick layer of blubber, which helps to insulate their bodies and keep them warm. They also have a specialized circulatory system that allows them to divert blood away from their extremities and towards their vital organs, which helps them conserve heat. Additionally, walruses have a high metabolic rate, which allows them to generate heat internally.
3. What do walruses eat?
Walruses are primarily carnivorous and feed on a variety of marine organisms, including clams, mussels, crabs, and other shellfish. They use their sensitive whiskers to locate their prey on the ocean floor, and they are able to suck the meat out of their shells using their powerful lips and tongue. Walruses have also been known to feed on fish and squid, although these make up a smaller portion of their diet.
4. How do walruses communicate?
Walruses are highly social animals and use a variety of vocalizations to communicate with one another. They have a range of grunts, snorts, and bellows that they use to express aggression, alarm, or excitement. In addition to vocalizations, walruses also use body language to communicate, such as head bobbing and tusk displays.
5. How do walruses reproduce?
Walruses mate in the water, typically during the summer months. Males will gather in large groups and compete for the attention of females, using their tusks to assert dominance. After mating, females will carry their young for approximately 15 months before giving birth to a single calf. Walrus calves are born on land or on ice floes and are able to swim within hours of birth.
6. Are walruses endangered?
Walruses are currently classified as “near threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). While their populations are stable in some areas, they are declining in others due to habitat loss, hunting, and climate change. Walruses are particularly vulnerable to the loss of sea ice, which they use as a platform for resting and feeding. As sea ice continues to melt due to rising temperatures, walruses are increasingly forced to come ashore, where they are more vulnerable to predation and disturbance.
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