Kingdom : Animalia Class : Mammalia Family : Odobenidae Scientific Name : Odobenus rosmarus Colour : Grey, Brown Skin Type : Hair Size(L) : 2.25m - 3.5m (7.5ft - 11.5ft) Weight : 400kg - 1,700kg (880lbs - 3,740lbs) Top Speed : 35km/h (22mph) Life Span : 40 - 50 years Most Distinctive Feature : Long tusk that can grow up to 1m long Fun Fact : Inhabits the freezing water of the Arctic Circle!
- Walruses are large marine mammals found in the Arctic Circle.
- They are closely related to Fur Seals.
- After the Elephant Seal, they are the second largest ocean dwelling mammals to come ashore to breed.
- Distinctively, they have long tusks and sensitive whiskers.
- Their tuskers are used to fight and to dig the ice to pull out their bodies while climbing out of water
- They have long and elongated bodies are wide at the head tapering towards the tail.
- Their tail is embedded in a web of skin.
- They move with the help of their flippers, in water and on land.
- There are mainly two species of Walrus- The Atlantic Walrus and the Pacific Walrus.
- They inhabit the ice floes and rocky coastlines along the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
- Walruses are sociable animals living in large herds consisting many dominant males, females and the young.
- The males are almost double the weight of their female counterparts and have longer tusks.
- They are known to breed in the months between January and March.
- The female walrus gives birth to a single pup, which is nursed by its mother for the first 6 months.
- Walruses are carnivores feeding and hunting only animals like clams, snails, worms, squid, octopus and slow moving fish.
- They have very few predators in Killer Whales and Polar Bears
- Interestingly, they dive to depths of about 80-100 m underwater and hunt in the darkness of water.
- Walruses are thought to be similar to humans for their intelligence, slow reproduction and in caring for their young ones.
- They are considered to be a species which is near threatened.