Walrus
Odobenus rosmarus
Conservation Status
Near ThreatenedMammalia · Carnivora · Odobenidae
About
The walrus is a large pinniped marine mammal with discontinuous distribution about the North Pole in the Arctic Ocean and subarctic seas of the Northern Hemisphere. It is the only extant species in the family Odobenidae and genus Odobenus. This species is subdivided into two subspecies: the Atlantic walrus, which lives in the Atlantic Ocean, and the Pacific walrus, which lives in the Pacific Ocean.
Fun Fact
Walruses use their tusks not for fighting but as ice picks — they stab them into ice floes and haul their 1,500-kg bodies out of the water, which is the origin of their genus name (Odobenus = 'those who walk with their teeth').
Quick Facts
Habitat
Arctic sea ice and coasts
Diet
Carnivore
Lifespan
30-40 years
Threats
- Illegal Wildlife Trade
- Ocean Pollution
- Ocean Acidification