walrus

Walrus The walrus (//Odobenus rosmarus// which is Latin for "toothed walking sea-horse") is a marine mammal most commonly known for its huge ivory tusks, whiskers, and

prodigious size. They are normally found near the Arctic Circle laying on the ice with hundreds of other walruses. These marine animals are known to be very social due to their loud noises they make at each other. Walruses are the second largest pinniped after elephant seals.

Features: Although it seems as though a walruses tusks would be in the way, they are actually extremely useful to the walrus. They use them in the arctic mostly for dragging themselves out of the frigid water and onto land and also for breaking breathing holes in the ice. Males even use their tusks to maintain territory and during mating season to protect their cows (females). Both males and females have tusks which can be about three to four feet long. The ivory tusks are in fact canine teeth that grow throughout the animals life. Other features that walruses posses are their long sensitive whiskers (mustacial vibrissae) that act as detection devices and help find food near the dark ocean floor. Blubber is also a very important feature for walruses seeing as though they live in the arctic region. Walruses are able to slow their heartbeat so they can swim in the cold waters.

Subspecies: There are two different types of walrus: Atlantic walruses and Pacific walruses. Atlantic walruses live in areas from Northeastern Canada to Greenland and are bigger than the Pacific subspecies. They also tend to have shorter tusks and a flatter snout. Pacific walruses live in the northern seas off of Russia and Alaska. Pacific walruses migrate from the Bering Sea to the Chukchi Sea. Females give birth during the spring migration.

Food: The walrus feeds on more than 60 marine organisms which include shrimp, tube worms, crab, soft coral, tunicates, sea cucumbers, many different types of mollusks, and possibly parts of other pinnipeds. Its favorite meal are benthic bivalves mollusks such as clams, mollusks, and oysters. Walruses eat them by creating a vacuum with their lips and sucking the meat out. They even help out the ocean when they search for food by stirring up nutrients into the water column.

Predators: The walrus is such a large animal that it has very few predators. Its two main predators are the orca and polar bear. Polar bears hunt for walrus by locating ones that are out of a pack or possibly injured. However, even an injured walrus will still put up a good fight for the polar bear. media type="custom" key="9400938" width="60" height="60"

Relationship to Humans: In the 18th and 19th century, walrus became almost extinct when Americans and Europeans killed most of the Atlantic population. Once it became clear that there was a severe decrease of the species it became outlawed to hunt them. Native people are still allowed to hunt a small amount at the end of the summer. When whalers catch a walrus nothing goes to waste such as when a moose is killed. The meat is an important source of food, the hide is used to make rope, and cover houses and boats, the ivory tusks were made into handicrafts and tools, the oils were used to provide warmth and light, and the intestines were great for waterproof parkas. Due to global warming, what used to be immense sheets of ice are now almost gone. Walrus rely on the ice for reproduction, giving birth, and as a resting spot. With little ice left many of the walrus are crowding on the land. media type="custom" key="9414520"

Sources:
 * "Defenders of Wildlife", http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/walrus.php, May 6, 2011
 * "Wikipedia", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walrus, May 6, 2011
 * Photo 1: "Wikimedia", Photo by Captain Budd Christman, NOAA Corps, http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Noaa-walrus22.jpg, May 6, 2011
 * "National Geographic", http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/walrus/, May 11, 2011
 * "JungleWalk.com", http://www.junglewalk.com/shop/walrus-t-shirts.htm, May 11,2011
 * "WWF", http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/species/problems/ten_to_watch_in_2010/, May 11, 2011
 * "Animal Planet", http://animal.discovery.com/videos/animal-face-off-polar-bear-vs-walrus.html, MaY 12, 2011
 * "Discovery News", http://news.discovery.com/videos/animals-ice-disappears-walruses-head-for-land.html, May 13, 2011