Walrus 

Scientific classification: The walrus makes up the family Odobenidae of the order Pinnipedia. It is classified as Odobenus
rosmarus.

Characteristics:

• Size: Adult walruses, also known as bulls, range from 8.9 to 11.7 ft in length and weigh 1800 to 3700 lb; males are slightly larger than females. Both the male and female have very large bodies with that is very thick skin that becomes nearly hairless with age. The skin can be up to three inches thick by the neck. All walruses have relatively small heads. A walrus has no external ear; a fold of skin marks the location of the ear. The large tusks are protruding canine teeth that have continued to grow out of the jaw. The tusks, about 1 m (about 3 ft) long in some males.

 
• Color: Walruses skin is black when wet, brown when dry. A walrus turns red when it sunbathes because the heat makes its arteries enlarge, and blood rushes to the skin.

 
• Breeding: Male reach their sexual maturity at 15 years and females usually usually reach theirs at 6-7 years. The mating season begins in January and ends in March. The female walruses have a gestation period of 15 months. A walrus bares only one young at a time. A walruses weaning time lasts 18 to 24 months.

 
• Diet: Walruses mainly eat bivalve mollusks, but they also enjoy other invertebrate marine animals, fish, and sometimes even seals.

 

 
 
 

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• The walrus's family name, Odobenidae, comes from an ancient Greek work that means "one who walks with his teeth."
• When a walrus bellows, it often sounds like church bells ringing.
• The thick skin is valued for polishing and buffing metal objects.
• Tusks are teeth that continue to grow down throughout the walrus's life. 1/5 of the tusks length are hidden in the jaw.
• A walrus uses its tusks to get a firm grip when hauling out on the ice or to support its head as it rests.
• Tusks are also used as weapons against rivals during the breeding season, and they are used as a status symbol in the herd.
• Young walrus are sometimes eaten by polar bears, but adults have few natural enemies. Walrus were hunted by Inuit at one time, but demand for carved ivory from their tusks has lessened in the last few decades, and hunting is now minimal.
• There are two populations of walruses, the Atlantic walrus and the Pacific walrus.
• Walruses can use all four limbs when moving on land by turning there hind legs around.
• It is believed that the sensitive whiskers and fleshy snout allow the walrus to detect and remove prey from the ocean floor.
• Walruses are highly social animals. They can be found congregating in herds, large groups numbering in the thousands, on or near the shore or among the ice floats.
• Walruses are gentle unless attacked. When a threat of an attack the whole herd will come to the defense.
• Polar bears and humans are the walruses only predators. Polar bears often eat young walruses. Humans hunt the animal for its valuable ivory tusks and for its flesh and blubber.
• Air crafts may cause stampedes of walruses into the water, which can result in calves being crushed. Ships have been known to cause reactions of walruses on ice pans to wake up, raise their heads and enter the water.
• Walruses may have a life span of up to 40 years.

 

 
 
 

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LINKS:

interesting facts about walruses
 history of both walruses and seals
 pictures and information about walruses

Caroline Wagner
Last date revised 4-2-02
Illinois College Jacksonville, IL 62650