Say hello to the mighty Walrus! These large marine mammals are found near the Arctic Circle. They are extremely social, and snort and bellow loudly at their companions. But be careful - during the mating season they can be quite aggressive!

 

 

Walruses are incredibly well adapted to survive in the harsh Arctic environment. They have wrinkled brown and pink skin, long whiskers, flat flippers and lots of blubber on their bodies to keep them warm. And check this out - these super swimmers slow down their heartbeat to withstand ice-cold waters. By doing this, they can stay submerged for up to ten minutes!

 

Their long tusks are useful in different ways. They use them to pull their enormous bodies out of freezing waters and to break breathing holes into ice from below.
Tusks are found on both males and females and keep growing throughout their lives. These tusks are actually canine teeth and can grow up to one metre in length. Yikes!

 

Pictures: Getty Images UK

Their whiskers are very sensitive and help the walruses find their favorite meals, such as clams, way down on the deep, dark ocean floor.

 

Fast Facts

The scientific name for the walrus is Odobenus rosmarus, which is Latin for "tooth-walking seahorse"!

These carnivorous mammals can live to be 40 years old in the wild.

Walruses are usually about 2.2m to 3.5m long.

They can weigh a hefty 1.5 tons!

They can eat about 45kg of meat a day, or about 10,000 small clams!

Walruses swim more slowly than seals, but they can swim for hundreds of miles without stopping!  


 

 

 

       

 

 

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