The walrus (Odobenus Rosmarus) is a distant relative of the seals. It's a mammal that belogns to the Pinniped order (the same order that includes seals) and to the Odobenidae family (that is composed by the walrus only).

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Where does the walrus live?

The walrus lives mainly in the Arctic and Greenland. Its favorite habitat is the pack ice near the sea.

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How big is the walrus?

The walrus is a giant in the pinniped order and is the largest pinniped in the Arctic. Males are 3.6m long and weigh 1500kg (more than 1 ton). Females are smaller: they are only 3 m long and weigh 600-900 kg.

What makes the walrus unique?

The unique feature of walruses is the tusks that appear from under the vibrissae-covered upper lip. These tusks are made of ivory and can be 1 meter in long.

The walrus uses its tusks above all as tools for self-defense: fights between walruses during the mating season and encounters with polar bears that attack their young walruses for food are not uncommon.

Sometimes, the walrus also uses its tusks to cling to the slippery ice floes on which it lies. It is no coincidence that this animal is known as "the one who walks with tusks".

The tusks are also used for food: it is through them that the walruses open the shell of the bivalve molluscs and then eat them.

The tusks are also used for food: it is through them that the walruses open the shell of the bivalve molluscs and then eat them.

Like the other pinnipeds, the walrus also has whiskers that are used to find food on the seabed.

In common with the other pinnipeds it also has the following characteristics:

  1. Regarding its mobility, the walrus's fins are resting on the ground and allow it to be fairly mobile. Even for short distances, it can reach speeds of 30 km / h on dry land.
  2. The fins themselves provide it with good swimming ability.

Is the walrus a social or a solitary animal?

The walrus is a social animal. It is not uncommon to see whole herds of walruses crowding the ice floes. Also, as mentioned above, fights between walruses to get a comfortable place to lie down or to mate are not uncommon.

During the warmer seasons, these aggregations move towards the rocky coasts waiting for the winter ice to return.

The walrus reproduction takes place in winter and the females give birth to only one cub in the month of May. The little ones have, in common with the adults, only the whiskers.

Picture link: https://www.bas.ac.uk/media-post/walrus-from-space/

What does the walrus eat?

As we have already mentioned previously, the walrus feeds mainly on bivalve molluscs. However, it often includes other prey in their diet:

  1. Worms.
  2. Sea birds.
  3. Shrimp.
  4. Bottom fish.

Has the walrus any natural enemies?

The only predator that dares to challenge the walrus is the polar bear. An adult walrus can hold its own against the predator. Conversely, puppies are more vulnerable since they lack the fangs and size of adults.

What relationship does the walrus have with humans?

Currently, there are a number of 200,000-220,000 walruses. This is due to global warming and hunting for the ivory of their tusks and their meat that the Eskimos eat.