They seem to prefer feeding at the bottom of shallow waters, eating clams, molluscs, worms, snails, soft shell crabs, shrimp and sea cucumbers. They feed on the shallow continental shelf in the Chukchi Sea. These walruses use sea ice for resting between feeding bouts, breeding, giving birth and nursing their young, as well as for shelter from rough seas and predators.
Unlike Pacific walruses, Atlantic walruses prefer to rest ashore, as most feeding grounds in the Atlantic are closer to land. During their mass gatherings, stampedes can occur as easily spooked walruses attempt to reach the water. Melting sea ice means more Pacific walruses are resting on land, further from their feeding grounds. These ever growing gatherings can be deadly, especially for young calves.
And as the Arctic opens up to more shipping, tourism, industry and noise, the Atlantic walruses are at greater threat of disturbance, and therefore stampedes. Climate change poses a huge threat to our future. If we lose the battle to stabilise the polar regions, people and nature around the planet will suffer.
There could be increased water shortages, changes in food production, and more extreme weather events — from flooding to droughts. Walruses are extremely social animals and tend to gather in small to large groups ranging from just a few to well over a thousand.
Walruses live in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of the world near the North Pole. Both male and female walruses have large tusks that clearly distinguish them from other marine mammals. Walruses are terrestrial, marine mammals, meaning they can swim in the ocean and walk on land and sea ice. Walruses typically eat mollusks, but worms, snails, soft shell crabs, shrimp, and sea cucumbers can also be found on their menu.
Click here or below to download hands-on marine science activities for kids. Protect Habitat. View All. We have already protected nearly 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done. Sign up today to get weekly updates and action alerts from Oceana. There are three subspecies of walrus. Atlantic walruses live in the coastal areas along northeastern Canada to Greenland.
Pacific walruses live in the northern seas near Russia and Alaska. Laptev walruses live in the Laptev Sea of Russia. Some scientists contest that the Laptev walrus is not a third subspecies, and say that it should be lumped together with the Pacific walrus, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's IUCN Red List.
The Integrated Taxonomic Information System ITIS places the walrus in a suborder that is made up of doglike carnivores, which includes seals, coyotes, foxes, jackals, wolves, skunks and bears. The taxonomy of walruses is:. In the s, the population of walruses was almost eliminated due to commercial hunting, but the population was brought back to a thriving number in the s. The IUCN does not have a category or criteria on the conservation status of the walrus.
This is because the animal's population is currently unknown. The organization does say that the population is large, but declining, due to climate change. These natives are now the only people who are allowed to legally hunt walruses.
Odobenus rosmarus , the walruses' scientific name, is Latin for "tooth-walking sea-horse," according to National Geographic. Walruses have only two natural predators: the orca or killer whale and the polar bear. The mustached and long-tusked walrus is most often found near the Arctic Circle, lying on the ice with hundreds of companions.
These marine mammals are extremely sociable, prone to loudly bellowing and snorting at one another, but are aggressive during mating season. With wrinkled brown and pink hides, walruses are distinguished by their long white tusks, grizzly whiskers, flat flipper, and bodies full of blubber. Walruses use their iconic long tusks for a variety of reasons, each of which makes their lives in the Arctic a bit easier.
Their tusks, which are found on both males and females, can extend to about three feet, and are, in fact, large canine teeth, which grow throughout their lives.
Male walruses, or bulls, also employ their tusks aggressively to maintain territory and, during mating season, to protect their harems of females, or cows. The walrus' other characteristic features are equally useful. As their favorite meals, particularly shellfish, are found near the dark ocean floor, walruses use their extremely sensitive whiskers, called mustacial vibrissae, as detection devices. Their blubbery bodies allow them to live comfortably in the Arctic region—walruses are capable of slowing their heartbeats in order to withstand the polar temperatures of the surrounding waters.
The two subspecies of walrus are divided geographically. Atlantic walruses inhabit coastal areas from northeastern Canada to Greenland, while Pacific walruses inhabit the northern seas off Russia and Alaska, migrating seasonally from their southern range in the Bering Sea—where they are found on the pack ice in winter—to the Chukchi Sea. Female Pacific walruses give birth to calves during the spring migration north. Only Native Americans are currently allowed to hunt walruses, as the species' survival was threatened by past overhunting.
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