Are you fascinated by the Arctic and its incredible animals? If so, you’re in for a treat! Today, we’re sharing a bunch of amazing facts about walruses – those big, tusked creatures of the sea. From their diet to their social habits, there’s a lot to learn about these fascinating animals.
So grab your pencil and paper and get ready to take some notes because you’re about to become a walrus expert!
1. Walruses are large marine mammals that live in the Arctic.
Walruses are animals that live in the ocean, specifically in a very cold region of the Arctic. The Arctic is a cold and icy place, and walruses are well-equipped to survive in these harsh conditions.
They have a layer of fat called blubber that helps keep them warm in the cold water, and their tough skin helps protect them from the icy environment. Walruses can be found in the Arctic waters of Canada, Russia, and other northern countries.
2. There are two species of walruses: the Pacific walrus and the Atlantic walrus.
Did you know that there are two different kinds of walruses? These two species are called the Pacific walrus and the Atlantic walrus. The Pacific walrus is found in the Pacific Ocean, while the Atlantic walrus is found in the Atlantic Ocean.
These two species of walruses have some differences. The Pacific walrus is generally larger and has longer tusks than the Atlantic walrus. Pacific walruses are also more migratory, meaning that it travels long distances to find food and suitable habitat.
3. Walruses have tough, wrinkled skin that is brown, pink, or gray in color.
Walruses have a unique appearance, and one feature that sets them apart is their skin. Walruses have tough, wrinkled skin that is covered in tiny bumps. This skin is usually brown, pink, or gray in color. It is thick and tough to protect the walrus from the cold water and ice in its habitat.
Walruses also have small, stiff hairs on their skin that help insulate them and keep them warm. The skin on a walrus’s face and head is much smoother and more flexible than the rest of its body, which helps it move its lips and mouth when it is eating or making vocalizations.
Overall, a walrus’s skin is an important part of its anatomy that helps it survive in its cold marine environment.
4. Walruses use their big tusks to defend themselves and to haul themselves out of the water onto ice floes.
Walruses are known for their large tusks, which are long, curved teeth that stick out from their upper jaw. These tusks serve a few important purposes for walruses. First and foremost, walruses use their tusks to defend themselves. If a walrus feels threatened by another animal, it will use its tusks to fight back and protect itself.
In addition, walruses use their tusks to haul themselves out of the water and onto ice floes. Ice floes are pieces of ice that float in the ocean, and walruses will often rest or sleep on them. By using their tusks to pull themselves out of the water, walruses can rest on the ice floes and stay warm and dry.
5. Walruses can grow up to 11 feet long and weigh over 4,000 pounds.
Walruses are some of the largest marine mammals in the world! Male walruses are generally larger and heavier than female walruses. Adult male walruses can grow up to an impressive size, with some individuals reaching a length of over 11 feet and weighing over 4,000 pounds. That’s equivalent to two small cars.
On the other hand, Female walruses can grow up to 10 ft long and weigh around 3000 pounds. Walruses have a lot of bulk to their bodies, with a thick layer of fat called blubber that helps keep them warm in cold water. Despite their impressive size, walruses are actually quite agile and are excellent swimmers and divers.
6. Walruses have a layer of fat called blubber, which helps them stay warm in cold water.
Walruses live in very cold water in the Arctic, where temperatures can drop to below freezing. In order to stay warm in these frigid conditions, walruses have a special layer of fat called blubber.
Blubber is a thick, soft layer of fat that is located just beneath the walrus’s skin. It acts as insulation, helping to keep the walrus’s body warm by trapping heat inside. Blubber is also an important source of energy for walruses, as they can use the fat stored in their blubber during times when food is scarce.
7. Walruses are excellent swimmers and divers and can hold their breath for up to 10 minutes at a time.
Walruses are skilled swimmers and divers and are able to stay underwater for long periods of time. They are able to hold their breath for up to 10 minutes at a time, which is an impressive feat! Walruses use their strong front flippers and webbed hind flippers for swimming through the water, and they can swim at speeds of up to 21 mph.
When diving, walruses use their powerful front flippers to propel themselves downward, and they can dive to depths of up to 300 feet. Walruses are able to stay underwater for so long because they have a special mechanism in their body that allows them to conserve oxygen.
When a walrus dives, its heart rate slows down, which helps to conserve oxygen and extend the amount of time it can stay underwater. This adaptation is essential for walruses, as they use diving and swimming to find food and navigate their icy habitat.
8. Walruses can swim at speeds of up to 21 mph underwater.
Walruses are excellent swimmers and can move through the water very quickly. They have large flippers, which are like arms with webbed fingers, that they use to propel themselves through the water.
Walruses are very strong in the water and can achieve a maximum swimming speed of up to 21 mph in short bursts, which is about as fast as a person can run on land. However, their average speed is around 4.3 miles per hour. Their streamlined body shape and powerful flippers make them well-suited for swimming and diving in the ocean.
9. Walruses eat clams, snails, and other small animals that they find on the ocean floor.
Walruses are carnivores and primarily feed on small sea creatures, such as clams, snails, and other mollusks that they find on the ocean floor. Their favorite food is clams, and they are able to consume 3,000 to 6,000 clams in a single feeding session.
To eat clams, they use a unique method called suction feeding. Walruses use their flexible lips and strong suction force to seal their mouth to the clam’s shell. They then use their tongue and upper jaw to pull the meat out of the shell and into their mouth.
This method allows them to efficiently extract the meat from the shell without having to break it open. Walruses are able to use this technique because they have very flexible lips and a strong suction force.
10. Walruses have a distinctive mustache made of stiff bristles called vibrissae.
Walruses have a distinctive appearance, and one feature that sets them apart is their mustache. Walruses have a mustache made of stiff bristles called vibrissae, which are long, thin hairs that stick out from their upper lip. These vibrissae are similar to whiskers and are used by walruses to sense their environment.
Walruses have a good sense of touch and are able to use their vibrissae to feel for objects and navigate their surroundings. They also use their vibrissae to help locate food, such as clams and other shellfish, on the ocean floor. Walruses have a large number of vibrissae, which gives their mustache a thick, bushy appearance.
Walruses often gather in large groups, called herds, on the ice floes of the Arctic. These gatherings, known as “haulouts,” can include hundreds or even thousands of walruses at a time. Haulouts provide a place for walruses to rest, mate, and give birth.
Walruses are known for their loud vocalizations, which can be heard from over a mile away, and these gatherings can be quite noisy. During mating season, male walruses may gather in large herds to defend their territory and attract females. Female walruses also form their own herds, which are typically smaller and more cohesive than the male herds.
Walruses are social animals and often engage in playful behaviors, such as rolling around in the snow or splashing in the water, while at the haulout.
12. Baby Walruses are born weighing around 150-200 pounds and are about 4 feet long.
Baby walruses, also known as calves, are born weighing around 150-200 pounds and are about 4 feet long. This is quite a size for a newborn animal! Baby walruses are born with a thick layer of fat called blubber, which helps to keep them warm and provides them with energy.
They also have small, stiff hairs on their skin that help to insulate them and keep them warm. Baby walruses are born with their eyes open and are able to swim and move around shortly after birth. They are also able to vocalize and make a variety of sounds to communicate with their mothers and other members of the herd.
Baby walruses are dependent on their mothers for food and protection, and they will stay with their mothers for the first few years of their lives.
13. Walruses have few natural predators because of their size and strength, but they may be hunted by polar bears and killer whales.
Walruses are large, strong animals that have few natural predators. This is because they are able to defend themselves with their powerful tusks and are able to swim and dive at great speeds. However, there are a few animals that may prey on walruses, including polar bears and killer whales.
Polar bears are powerful predators that live in the Arctic, and they have been known to hunt walruses for food. Walruses are also occasionally preyed upon by killer whales, which are large, predatory dolphins that live in the ocean.
Killer whales are skilled hunters and are able to take down even large prey, such as walruses. Despite these potential threats, walruses are generally able to defend themselves and avoid being preyed upon.
14. Walruses have a lifespan of around 20-30 years in the wild.
Walruses are long-lived animals and have a lifespan of around 20-30 years in the wild. Walruses are able to live for such a long time due to their strong immune systems and the fact that they have few natural predators.
Walruses are also able to adapt to their environment and are able to survive in the cold, harsh conditions of the Arctic. As walruses age, they may become less active and may have a harder time finding food, but they are generally able to live a long and healthy life in the wild.
15. Walruses have a rich cultural history among indigenous Arctic peoples.
Walruses have a rich cultural history among the indigenous Arctic peoples who have lived in close proximity to them for thousands of years. Walruses have long been an important part of the cultures and traditions of these communities, and they have played a central role in the lives of Arctic peoples.
Walruses have been used for food, clothing, and tools by indigenous Arctic peoples, and their tusks have been used for carving and trade. In many indigenous cultures, walruses are seen as powerful and respected animals, and they are often depicted in art and storytelling.
Today, walruses continue to be an important part of the cultures and traditions of indigenous Arctic peoples, and they are valued for their role in the ecosystem and the cultural significance they hold.
16. Climate change and melting sea ice are threatening the habitat of walruses.
Walruses are native to the Arctic, which is a region of the world that is experiencing significant changes due to climate change. One of the main ways that climate change is affecting the Arctic is through the melting of sea ice. Sea ice is a type of frozen seawater that forms in the Arctic Ocean and surrounding seas during the winter months.
Walruses rely on sea ice as a platform to rest, breed, and raise their young, and they use it to travel between feeding and breeding areas. As sea ice melts due to warming temperatures, it can be harder for walruses to find places to rest and breed. This can be a problem for walruses, as they need sea ice to survive and thrive.
Climate change and melting sea ice are therefore threatening the habitat of walruses and could have negative impacts on their population in the future.
Related articles:
18 Starfish Facts for Kids to Spark Your Imagination