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| Walrus |
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| Common
Name: |
walrus |
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| Class:
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Mammalia |
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| Order: |
Pinnipedia |
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| Family:
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Odobenidae |
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| Genus
species: |
Odobenus
rosmarus |
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| Fast
Facts |
| Description:
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| Size:
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| Weight:
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Male
walruses weigh about 800-1,700 kg (1,764-3,748 lb.). Females weigh
about 400-1,250 kg (882-2,756 lb.). Atlantic walruses are slightly
smaller than Pacific walruses. |
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| Diet:
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Walruses
prefer to eat bivalve mollusks such as clams. They also eat many other
kinds of invertebrates including worms, snails, squids, and crabs. |
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| Gestation: |
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| Sexual
maturity: |
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| Life
span: |
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| Range:
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| Habitat:
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| Population: |
Total
world population of walruses is about 250,000 animals. Two walrus
subspecies exist--Pacific and Atlantic. Both live in the Arctic. |
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| Status:
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| RETURN
TO TOP |
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| Fun
Facts |
| 1. |
Herds
of walruses haul out (leave the water to get on land) on sea ice to
rest and bear their young. They prefer snow-covered moving pack ice
or ice floes, but will also haul out on small rocky islands when ice
isn't present. |
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| 2. |
Walruses
spend about two-thirds of their lives in the water.
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| 3. |
Most
walruses live where the air temperature is about -15 to +5 degree
C (5-41 degree F). |
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| 4. |
A thick
layer of blubber insulates the walrus. Blubber may be up to 15 cm
(6 in.) thick. During the winter, blubber may account for one-third
of a walrus' total body mass. Blubber also streamlines the body and
functions as an excess energy reserve. |
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| 5. |
To locate
food, walruses use their vibrissae (whiskers). A walrus has about
400 to 700 vibrissae in 13 to 15 rows on its snout. Vibrissae are
attached to muscles and are supplied with blood and nerves. A walrus
moves its snout through bottom sediment to find food. Abrasion patterns
of the tusks show that they are dragged through the sediment, but
are not used to dig up prey. Walruses may also take in mouthfuls of
water and squirt powerful jets at the sea floor, excavating burrowing
invertebrates such as clams. |
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| RETURN
TO TOP |
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| Ecology
and Conservation |
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| Bibliography |
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| For more
information and classroom activities, visit All
About Seals, Sea Lions and Walruses |
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| Return
to Animal Bytes |
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