Walrus Facts

Walrus Facts

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1. The name walrus in Latin (Odobenus rosmarus) stands for “tooth walking sea horse”. The reason is that the process of pulling its bulk from the ocean looks like as if the walrus is walking on its tusks.

3. The habitat of the walrus is in a very cold place.  It is-15 to +5 degrees Celsius.  This is 5 to 41 degrees Fahrenheit.  They live where heavy snow covered ice covers more than 80 % of the sea.  They spend 2/3 of their life in the water.  

3. The age of a walrus can be estimated by slicing a section of the cheek tooth and counting the layers.

4. A special characteristic that helps the walrus live in it’s environment is a thick layer of blubber.  They have large ivory tusks which they use for protection and for breaking through ice and snow.  
5. The walrus have big whiskers. They use their whiskers to feel around until they find food. Then they blow to get the food loose or to make it move so they can get it. They need it to move because they can't get to it because of their tusks. Walrus mainly eat bottom-dwelling invertebrates. This would be things like clams, snails, crabs, shrimp and worms.

6. A walrus can weigh from 760 kg to 1350 kg.  They have a thick layer of fat called blubber. They have dark brown skin.

7. A male walrus is called a bull.  A female is called a cow.  A baby walrus is called a calf.

8. The walrus is one of the largest members of the Pinnipeds (the group which contains all types of seals and walrus), and is the largest member of this group to live in the Arctic. Two distinct subspecies are recognised: Atlantic and Pacific walrus.

9. The total population of Walruses today is estimated to be around  250,000. The Walruses scientific name is Odobenus rosmarus. 

10. A female walrus takes 1 year to develop its young before birth after mating. A walrus weighs 99-165lbs at birth. A walrus can weigh up to 3,000 lbs. at full growth. And it can get up to 8-12 ft. in length.  A Walrus eats bivalve mollusks such as clams. They will also eat worms, snails, squads, and crabs.

11. Most male Walruses are mature at 8-10 years old. Successful reproduction is probably around 15 years.  Most females are sexually mature at 5-6 years old. Most mating occurs December-March.

12. A male Walrus is called a Bull. A female walrus is called a cow. A baby Walrus is called a calf.

13. A Bull displays visually and vocally from the water while the female rests.The display includes teethclacking, clanging bell-like sounds, and whistles.The female or cow then joins the Bull and that is where copulation takes place.

14. After the mating season the bulls return to all- male herds. The calf is born a year later. The calf stays with it’s mother up to 2 years maybe longer, if the mother does not have another calf in that time.

15. These mammals are very friendly, they like to make loud bellowing and snorting sounds at one another. They are aggressive during mating season. 

16. Walrus can live up to 40 years. They weigh up to 1.5 tons and are called carnivores because they eat meat.A baby walrus is called a calf. If a walrus calf's mom or dad dies or can't take care of him, a grown-up walrus may adopt him. Sometimes, the calf's grandmother or aunt will raise him.

17. Walruses have front and back fippers, which help them to swim as well as to move around on land.

18. An adult male walrus can weigh over 1’000 kg and their life span is up to 40 years and more in captivity.

19. Walruses are marine mammals and they are very sociable. They make quite a bit of noise by  loudly bellowing and snorting at one another.

20. Walruses don’t have good eyesight, however their hearing and sense of smell is excellent.

21. Walruses form very large herds. Within the herd they have a hierarchy, which is set up overall as well as for sub groups. 

22. They live in an Arctic climate and are divided geographically into two subspecies. The Atlantic walruses inhabit the coastal areas from northeastern Canada to Greenland and the Pacifc walruses live in the northern seas off Russia and Alaska.

23. Walruses can dive for up to 30 minutes.

24. The  tusk of a walrus  grows throughout their lives. Their whiskers are extremely sensitive and they are used to help fnd food.

25. Although walruses look bold when you see them from far away they are covered with a thin layer of fur.   Their blubber (the fat storage surrounding their bodies) helps them to keep them warm.

26. Both male and female walrus have long ivory tusks, which are modified upper canine teeth.  

27. A walrus can sleep while it swims. It has air sacs in his throat and he can fll them and foat.

28. Walruses eat clams,krill,crabs,worms and snails.They also eat octopus and fish.Walruses use their whiskers to help the walrus feel for food.  Walrus  attack seals with it tusks. 

29. The walruses enemies are killer whales and polar bears.The walrus use their tusks to defend their self from the enemies and kayaks.

30. He has air sacs in his throat that he fills like floats. This makes it so he can bob vertically in the water and sleep. 

31. The Walrus is the largest arctic marine animal. They cannot move well on land. There are good swimmers. An other name for the walrus is Aiviq.

32. Like most diving marine mammals, walrus store oxygen in their blood and muscles. Due to this adaptation, they have an enormous blood volume; up to 2 to 3 times larger than a terrestrial animal of comparable size.