Walrus are the only living members of this family found in the arctic region. They’re big and bulky (15,00kgs or 1.5 tonnes), and it’s good because multiple fat layers help them survive the frozen north pole. Walrus face the brunt of climate change, with the most immediate threat being ice melting (their resting ground).
Walrus tend to form large huddles on pack ice and are extremely sensitive to disturbances (immediately dragging themselves back into the sea at the slightest of disturbances). Reducing space because of melting ice causes them to form more closely packed huddles, which often results in a massive stampede, even when one of them gets spooked and runs back into the sea. Walrus woefully indicates the impending climate reality staring us all in the eyes.
Distribution
Pacific ocean
Arctic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
Chukchi Sea
Bering Sea
Beaufort Sea
Belgium
Canada
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Greenland
Iceland
Ireland
Japan
Netherlands
Norway
Russia
Spain
Svalbard
Sweden
United Kingdom
United States
United StatesDid you know?
- Their tusks are elongated upper canine teeth.
- They can dive up to 500 m (1600 ft) deep, and up to 40 minutes!
- They have an excellent sense of smell and can detect prey on the ocean floor, even in complete darkness.
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd / Group
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
