 | Quick Facts |  |
|  | Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Pinnipedia
Family: Odobenidae
Genus: Odobenus
Species: rosmarus
Height: 60 inches
Length: 120 - 144 inches
Weight: 880 - 3500 lbs
Gestation: 450 - 480 days
Offspring: 1
Life Span: 40 years
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WalrusOdobenus rosmarus |  |
The Walrus, odobenus rosmarus, lives in both the Atlantic and Pacific regions. A walrus is generally a reddish brown color that can appear almost white after being submersed in cold water for long periods of time. The male walrus can weigh any where from 1700 to 4000 lbs and measure up to 12 feet long. The female walrus is significantly smaller, only weighing 800 to 2800 lbs and measuring 7 ½ to 10 feet long. A walrus’ head is square in shape and is adorned by 400 to 700 whiskers. It has 18 teeth and two long tusks.
Due to poor visibility on the bottom of the ocean, the walrus relies on its whiskers to help it find its food. It will move its snout along the bottom of the ocean, rooting through sediment to find mollusks, worms, gastropods, crustaceans, sea cucumbers and other soft-bodied animals to feed on. A walrus will eat up to 6.2% of its total body weight daily in two meals.
The Walrus generally lives in water that is no more that 250 feet deep. It lives in both the Pacific and Atlantic regions. The Pacific walrus tends to be much larger than the Atlantic walrus. A walruses live in a habitat of sea ice and prefer snow covered moving pack ice. They will “haul out” to land when snow is not present.
The gestation period for the walrus is between 15 and 16 months. Calves are generally born mid April to June and are usually born on the ice. A newborn calf weighs 100 to 150 pounds and measures 3 to 4 feet in length. They are usually gray in color. As they get older, they get darker, browner in color.
The walrus’s sense of smell is phenomenal. It will dive into the water at the faintest scent of a human. Not only does it protect them from predators, but is also used for mother/calf recognition. Its eyes can be rotated forward, but are not as sharp as some may think.
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