# Walrus (*Odobenus rosmarus*) Walruses are large marine mammals with long tusks and whiskers. They live in cold Arctic waters. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 5/5 · Extreme - **Habitat:** Arctic seas and ice floes. - **Also known as:** Odobenus ![Walrus](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426186/objects/4395.jpg) ## Appearance The Walrus is a massive marine mammal, easily identified by its long, prominent ivory tusks and thick, wrinkled, reddish-brown skin. It has a distinctive broad muzzle covered in hundreds of stiff, sensitive whiskers, and a thick layer of blubber beneath its skin. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Odobenidae - **Genus:** Odobenus ## Interesting facts - Their blubber can be up to 15 cm thick, keeping them super warm in icy waters! - They often gather in huge groups called herds, sometimes with thousands of walruses! - Walrus calves stay with their moms for up to five years, learning how to survive! - Walruses can turn pale when diving as blood flows away from their skin! ## Special abilities - **Tusk Tugger:** Walrus can use their long tusks to pull themselves onto ice floes, helping them rest out of the water. - **Whisker Sensor:** Walrus has hundreds of sensitive whiskers that help them feel for hidden shellfish on the dark seafloor. - **Icy Armor:** Walrus has a thick layer of blubber that helps them stay warm and insulated in freezing Arctic waters. - **Deep Diver:** Walrus can slow its heart rate to hold its breath for over 20 minutes, allowing for long dives. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 220-360 cm - **Weight:** 800-1900 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-20 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 450-480 days ## Diet & Feeding Walruses mostly eat yummy shellfish and other tiny creatures they find on the ocean floor! - **Primary Foods:** clams, mollusks, bivalves, worms, sea cucumbers - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Polar Bear](https://www.snappit.app/explore/polar-bear) (*Ursus maritimus*) — Polar bears sometimes hunt young or sick walruses for food. - **Hunts:** [Orca](https://www.snappit.app/explore/orca) (*Orcinus orca*) — Orcas, or killer whales, are known predators of walruses in open waters. - **Eats:** Soft-shell Clam (*Mya arenaria*) — These clams are a common and favorite food dug from the seabed. - **Eats:** Greenland Cockle (*Serripes groenlandicus*) — Walruses efficiently forage for these bivalves using their sensitive whiskers. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Whiskered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/whiskered): Possessing prominent sensory hairs or vibrissae, often around the snout. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Thermoregulating](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thermoregulating): Thermoregulating organisms maintain a stable internal body temperature despite fluctuations in the external environment. - [Tusked](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tusked): Characterized by having long, pointed, projecting teeth, usually in pairs. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 5/5 · Extreme Very dangerous — keep far away. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Walrus? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Walrus? 220-360 cm ### How much does Walrus weigh? 800-1900 kg ### How long does Walrus live? 15-20 years ### How fast can Walrus move? 35 km/h ### What does Walrus eat? Walruses mostly eat yummy shellfish and other tiny creatures they find on the ocean floor! ### Where is Walrus usually found? Arctic seas and ice floes. ### How does Walrus hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [SeaWorld San Diego](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/seaworld-san-diego) — California, US · Aquarium - [Pairi Daiza](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pairi-daiza) — Hainaut, BE · Zoo - [Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/point-defiance-zoo-and-aquarium) — Washington, US · Zoo - [SeaWorld San Diego](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/seaworld-san-diego-california) — California, US · Zoo - [Indianapolis Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/indianapolis-zoo) — Indiana, US · Zoo - [SeaWorld Orlando](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/seaworld-orlando) — Florida, US · Zoo [View all places to see Walrus](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/walrus) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Walrus: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/walrus)