Walrus facts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Walrusfacts_1.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n1. There are two sub-species of walrus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Walruses can be found in the far north <\/strong>of our planet. They live in the Arctic<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 a vast wilderness <\/strong>of snow, ice, <\/strong>and sea<\/strong>. Atlantic walruses <\/strong>live in coastal areas <\/strong>from Canada<\/a> to Greenland (in the Atlantic Ocean), while Pacific walruses <\/strong>live in the northern seas<\/strong> above Russia<\/a> and Alaska<\/strong> (in the Pacific Ocean). Cool<\/em>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nBET YOU DIDN’T KNOW!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scientific name for a walrus is ‘Odobenus rosmarus’<\/em>. That’s Latin <\/strong>for ‘tooth-walking sea-horse<\/strong>‘!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n2. Walrus tusks can be over 90cm long!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2021\/04\/walrusfacts_6.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nSpeaking of teeth, walruses have some whopping canines<\/strong>! Both male and female walruses grow long tusks<\/strong>, which help them adapt to Arctic life. These massive, marine mammals use their tall tusks like ski poles, digging them into sand, snow and ice to help them haul their enormous bodies out <\/strong>of the freezing ocean waters! Plus, they’re great for smashing through tough ice from below, creating breathing holes <\/strong>for swimming walruses to catch a breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"If](\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2024\/09\/NGK-Oceans-Activity-Colouring-Book-1024x835.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Thick layers of blubber protect walruses from the cold<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
These massive animals don’t carry all that weight around for no reason! The thick layers of blubber (fat) stored beneath their skin helps walruses stay insulated<\/strong>, keeping them warm and protected from cold. Thanks to all that brr<\/em>-illiant blubber, walruses are able to withstand freezing temperatures <\/strong>as low as -35\u00b0C<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n4. Walruses weigh up to 1.5 tonnes! <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Even baby walruses are huge! These chunky critters, known as calves<\/strong>, can weigh up to 75kg at birth<\/strong> \u2013 that’s the same weight as some adult humans! <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2021\/04\/walrusfacts_5.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n5. Their huge size comes from a steady diet of molluscs, crustaceans, and worms!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Walruses grab shellfish <\/strong>like clams <\/strong>from the sea floor, but they also enjoy sea cucumbers <\/strong>and mussels<\/strong>. Adults will sometimes hunt fish<\/strong>, while some huge adult males have even been recording stalking<\/strong> seals<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nAMAZING ADAPTATIONS!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Walruses have super<\/strong> sensitive whiskers<\/strong>, which help them detect food at the bottom of the ocean. Once they’ve located a tasty snack, walruses can be surprisingly<\/strong> speedy swimmers<\/strong>, reaching speeds of up to 35km\/h <\/strong>to chase down their prey!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n6. Walruses can sleep in water!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes, walruses will forage in places where there’s no nearby ice or land for them to haul themselves out onto for nap. That’s why they have handy ‘pharyngeal pouches<\/strong>‘ <\/strong>\u2013 air sacs on their throats that inflate like pillows! Once their pouches are filled with up to 50 litres of air<\/strong>, walruses can doze off, snoozing in a vertical position<\/strong> and kept safe from drowning by their portable pillow \u2013 genius<\/em>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"You'll](\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2024\/09\/NGK-Oceans-Find-It-Explore-It-1024x835.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n7. Walruses can live for up 40 years<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Walruses have very few natural predators<\/strong>, and their huge size makes them a challenging opponent! Only an orca<\/a> or a large polar bear<\/a> would dare try to take on an adult walrus…<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Walrus](\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2021\/04\/walrusfacts_4.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n8. These astonishing animals are very sociable, but can be aggressive<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A walrus colony is a noisy place! These animals live in large groups, known as herds<\/strong>, which gather together on land. Out of the water, the walruses loudly bellow <\/strong>and snort <\/strong>at one another to communicate! During the mating season<\/strong>, male walruses can become very aggressive <\/strong>as they fight for females<\/strong> using their tall tusks. Yikes<\/em>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Walruses](\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Walrusfacts_2.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n9. Indigenous<\/strong> Americans are the only people allowed to hunt walruses<\/h3>\n\n\n\nSadly, humans <\/strong>are the biggest predator that the walrus has ever faced. During the 1700-1800s, walruses were almost<\/strong> hunted to extinction<\/strong>, as their meat, tusks, oil, and skin<\/strong> were valuable materials. Now, walrus hunting is illegal<\/strong> for everyone except for indigenous groups <\/strong>like the Inuit<\/strong>, for whom walruses are still a major life resource<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n10. Walruses are very sensitive to changes in their environment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Despite their formidable size, walruses are easily spooked<\/strong>! In walrus herds, any sign of danger<\/strong> can cause stampedes<\/strong> as the animals flee land and head towards the safety of water. <\/p>\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n1. There are two sub-species of walrus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Walruses can be found in the far north <\/strong>of our planet. They live in the Arctic<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 a vast wilderness <\/strong>of snow, ice, <\/strong>and sea<\/strong>. Atlantic walruses <\/strong>live in coastal areas <\/strong>from Canada<\/a> to Greenland (in the Atlantic Ocean), while Pacific walruses <\/strong>live in the northern seas<\/strong> above Russia<\/a> and Alaska<\/strong> (in the Pacific Ocean). Cool<\/em>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scientific name for a walrus is ‘Odobenus rosmarus’<\/em>. That’s Latin <\/strong>for ‘tooth-walking sea-horse<\/strong>‘!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Speaking of teeth, walruses have some whopping canines<\/strong>! Both male and female walruses grow long tusks<\/strong>, which help them adapt to Arctic life. These massive, marine mammals use their tall tusks like ski poles, digging them into sand, snow and ice to help them haul their enormous bodies out <\/strong>of the freezing ocean waters! Plus, they’re great for smashing through tough ice from below, creating breathing holes <\/strong>for swimming walruses to catch a breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These massive animals don’t carry all that weight around for no reason! The thick layers of blubber (fat) stored beneath their skin helps walruses stay insulated<\/strong>, keeping them warm and protected from cold. Thanks to all that brr<\/em>-illiant blubber, walruses are able to withstand freezing temperatures <\/strong>as low as -35\u00b0C<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even baby walruses are huge! These chunky critters, known as calves<\/strong>, can weigh up to 75kg at birth<\/strong> \u2013 that’s the same weight as some adult humans! <\/p>\n\n\n Walruses grab shellfish <\/strong>like clams <\/strong>from the sea floor, but they also enjoy sea cucumbers <\/strong>and mussels<\/strong>. Adults will sometimes hunt fish<\/strong>, while some huge adult males have even been recording stalking<\/strong> seals<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n AMAZING ADAPTATIONS!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Walruses have super<\/strong> sensitive whiskers<\/strong>, which help them detect food at the bottom of the ocean. Once they’ve located a tasty snack, walruses can be surprisingly<\/strong> speedy swimmers<\/strong>, reaching speeds of up to 35km\/h <\/strong>to chase down their prey!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Sometimes, walruses will forage in places where there’s no nearby ice or land for them to haul themselves out onto for nap. That’s why they have handy ‘pharyngeal pouches<\/strong>‘ <\/strong>\u2013 air sacs on their throats that inflate like pillows! Once their pouches are filled with up to 50 litres of air<\/strong>, walruses can doze off, snoozing in a vertical position<\/strong> and kept safe from drowning by their portable pillow \u2013 genius<\/em>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Walruses have very few natural predators<\/strong>, and their huge size makes them a challenging opponent! Only an orca<\/a> or a large polar bear<\/a> would dare try to take on an adult walrus…<\/p>\n\n\n A walrus colony is a noisy place! These animals live in large groups, known as herds<\/strong>, which gather together on land. Out of the water, the walruses loudly bellow <\/strong>and snort <\/strong>at one another to communicate! During the mating season<\/strong>, male walruses can become very aggressive <\/strong>as they fight for females<\/strong> using their tall tusks. Yikes<\/em>!<\/p>\n\n\n Sadly, humans <\/strong>are the biggest predator that the walrus has ever faced. During the 1700-1800s, walruses were almost<\/strong> hunted to extinction<\/strong>, as their meat, tusks, oil, and skin<\/strong> were valuable materials. Now, walrus hunting is illegal<\/strong> for everyone except for indigenous groups <\/strong>like the Inuit<\/strong>, for whom walruses are still a major life resource<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite their formidable size, walruses are easily spooked<\/strong>! In walrus herds, any sign of danger<\/strong> can cause stampedes<\/strong> as the animals flee land and head towards the safety of water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Walrus tusks can be over 90cm long!<\/h3>\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Thick layers of blubber protect walruses from the cold<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Walruses weigh up to 1.5 tonnes! <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n5. Their huge size comes from a steady diet of molluscs, crustaceans, and worms!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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6. Walruses can sleep in water!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n7. Walruses can live for up 40 years<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n8. These astonishing animals are very sociable, but can be aggressive<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n9. Indigenous<\/strong> Americans are the only people allowed to hunt walruses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
10. Walruses are very sensitive to changes in their environment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2021\/04\/walrusfacts_7.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n