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What are Walruses?

Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov

Walruses are large tusked pinnipeds (related to seals) that live in the far north, on the boundaries of the Arctic Ocean. The only living members of the Odobenidae family and Odobenus genus, the scientific species name for walruses is O. rosmarus. There are three geographically isolated subspecies, the Atlantic Walrus (O. rosmarus rosmarus), living in the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Walrus (O. rosmarus divergens), living in the Pacific Ocean, and the Laptev Walrus (O. rosmarus laptevi), living in the Laptev Sea just north of Siberia. These subspecies are thought to have split between 500,000 and 785,000 years ago.

The walrus is a memorable animal, with huge white tusks, immense bulk, and whiskers (vibrissa) to help it from bumping its head against the bottom of the sea when it forages for food. Male walruses can weigh up to 4,400 lb (1,996 kg), but typically average around 2000 lbs (889 kg), and measure 11-11½ ft (3.3-3.45 m) in length on average. The tusks alone can measure 3.2 ft (1 m) in length. The females are about two-thirds the size of males, and the Pacific subspecies is about 10% larger than the Atlantic subspecies.

Walruses are large pinnipeds that are highly desirable by poachers for their ivory tusks.
Walruses are large pinnipeds that are highly desirable by poachers for their ivory tusks.

There are about 200,000 Pacific walruses, 20,000 Atlantic walruses, and 10,000 Laptev walruses. They gather in huge colonies, sometimes numbering tens of thousands of individuals. Walruses are opportunistic feeders, foraging on the sea bottom for tube worms, soft corals, shrimps, crabs, tunicates, and sea cucumbers. Their favorite food are benthic bivalve mollusks, which they extract from their shells using tremendous suction power, the distinctive feature of their biological family.

Polar bears are one of only two natural predators of walrus.
Polar bears are one of only two natural predators of walrus.

The tusks of walruses are used for a variety of purposes: fighting, dominance displays, poking holes into the ice, and hauling itself out of the water and onto the ice. It used to be thought that the tusks were used to stir up the ocean floor and find food, but closer studies have revealed that the front end of the snout is actually used for this purpose. Walrus tusks have historically had great value in the ivory trade, prompting the poaching and exploitation of this species. In recent times, however, this hunting has been tightly regulated, and two subspecies of walruses are rated as "least-concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, with the third subspecies listed as "data deficient".

Walruses have only two natural predators — polar bears and the orca. However, they are not a prominent part of either's diet, and killing an aggressive walrus can be a huge hassle for either species.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key characteristics of walruses?

Some walruses feed on crab, found on sea bottoms.
Some walruses feed on crab, found on sea bottoms.

Walruses are large marine mammals known for their distinctive tusks, which can grow up to 3 feet in males. They have a robust body with a thick layer of blubber for insulation in cold Arctic waters. Their skin is wrinkled and typically brownish-pink. Walruses use their sensitive whiskers to detect food on the ocean floor.

Where do walruses typically live?

The orca is a natural predator of the walrus.
The orca is a natural predator of the walrus.

Walruses inhabit icy waters of the Arctic Ocean and subarctic seas of the Northern Hemisphere. They are found on the continental shelf of the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. They prefer areas with shallow waters where they can easily access food and ice floes for resting and giving birth.

What do walruses eat and how do they hunt?

Walruses primarily feed on benthic invertebrates like clams, snails, and worms. They forage on the sea floor, using their powerful tusks to dig and their whiskers to sense prey. They can eat up to several thousand clams in a single feeding session, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

How do walruses socialize and communicate?

Walruses are social animals, often found in large herds. They communicate through vocalizations and physical gestures. Vocal sounds include bell-like calls, clicks, and whistles. During the breeding season, males will sing complex, loud songs to attract females. Social hierarchy is typically established through tusk displays and body size.

What are the main threats to walrus populations?

Climate change poses the greatest threat to walruses by reducing sea ice habitats. Other threats include oil and gas development, shipping traffic, and potential overharvesting. The loss of ice forces walruses to rest on land, leading to overcrowding and increased mortality from stampedes, as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Are walruses protected by any conservation efforts?

Walruses are protected under various international agreements and laws. The U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits the harassment, hunting, capturing, or killing of walruses in U.S. waters. Additionally, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulates the trade of walrus ivory to prevent illegal poaching and ensure sustainable populations.

Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov

Michael is a longtime AllThingsNature contributor who specializes in topics relating to paleontology, physics, biology, astronomy, chemistry, and futurism. In addition to being an avid blogger, Michael is particularly passionate about stem cell research, regenerative medicine, and life extension therapies. He has also worked for the Methuselah Foundation, the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and the Lifeboat Foundation.

Learn more...
Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov

Michael is a longtime AllThingsNature contributor who specializes in topics relating to paleontology, physics, biology, astronomy, chemistry, and futurism. In addition to being an avid blogger, Michael is particularly passionate about stem cell research, regenerative medicine, and life extension therapies. He has also worked for the Methuselah Foundation, the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and the Lifeboat Foundation.

Learn more...

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    • Walruses are large pinnipeds that are highly desirable by poachers for their ivory tusks.
      By: MAK
      Walruses are large pinnipeds that are highly desirable by poachers for their ivory tusks.
    • Polar bears are one of only two natural predators of walrus.
      By: ILYA AKINSHIN
      Polar bears are one of only two natural predators of walrus.
    • Some walruses feed on crab, found on sea bottoms.
      By: raptorcaptor
      Some walruses feed on crab, found on sea bottoms.
    • The orca is a natural predator of the walrus.
      By: desertsolitaire
      The orca is a natural predator of the walrus.