The walrus is a large marine mammal of the Arctic and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. These creatures are pinnipeds, a group that includes seals and sea lions, and are the only living species within their family, Odobenidae. Walruses are recognized for their substantial size, with adult males in the Pacific potentially exceeding 2,000 kilograms (4,400 pounds). They inhabit the cold waters around the North Pole.
Unique Adaptations
Walruses have distinctive physical characteristics that allow them to thrive in their icy environment. Their most recognizable features are their prominent tusks, which are elongated upper canine teeth present in both males and females. These tusks, which can grow over one meter (3 feet) in length, serve multiple purposes, including helping walruses haul their massive bodies onto ice floes or rocky shores. They also use their tusks to create and maintain breathing holes in the ice, allowing them to access air while foraging beneath the surface. Tusks also play a role in social interactions, with males using them in dominance displays and sometimes in fights to establish hierarchy or compete for mates.
Surrounding their snout is a dense mat of stiff whiskers, known as vibrissae, which are sensitive sensory organs. These whiskers, numbering between 400 and 700 in 13 to 15 rows, are richly supplied with blood and nerves, enabling walruses to detect prey on the murky seabed. This tactile sense is useful for locating benthic invertebrates like clams and mussels buried in sediment. Beneath their wrinkled, thick skin, which can be 2 to 4 centimeters (1 to 2 inches) deep, walruses have a substantial layer of blubber. This blubber, which can be up to 15 centimeters (6 inches) thick, provides insulation against the frigid Arctic waters and serves as an energy reserve, especially when food is scarce.
Life in Arctic Waters
Walruses are found across the Arctic Ocean and subarctic seas, with two recognized subspecies: the Atlantic walrus and the Pacific walrus. The Pacific walrus primarily inhabits the Bering, Chukchi, and Laptev Seas, while the Atlantic walrus is found in coastal areas of northeastern Canada and Greenland. These animals prefer shallow waters, less than 80 meters (262 feet) deep, with gravelly or muddy bottoms that support abundant benthic invertebrates. They spend two-thirds of their lives in the water, but regularly haul out onto sea ice or land to rest and socialize.
Their diet consists of benthic invertebrates, primarily clams and mussels, which account for about 97% of their nutritional intake. Walruses forage by sweeping their snouts along the seafloor, using their sensitive whiskers to locate buried prey. Once prey is detected, they employ a unique suction feeding method, sealing their lips to the shell and rapidly withdrawing their piston-like tongue to suck the soft body out. An adult walrus can consume between 3,000 and 6,000 clams in a single feeding session, often feeding twice a day.
Walruses are social animals, forming large herds that number in the hundreds or even thousands when they haul out on ice or land. Within these large aggregations, smaller groups form based on age, sex, and social hierarchy, which is influenced by tusk length and body size. They communicate through a variety of vocalizations both above and below water, including growls, barks, whistles, and bell-like sounds, used for social interactions, courtship displays, and alerting others to danger.
Mating occurs in the water between January and March, with males displaying vocally to attract females. After a gestation period of 15 to 16 months, which includes a period of delayed implantation, a single calf is born from April to June. Calves are born with the ability to swim and stay closely bonded with their mothers for up to two to three years, nursing for at least 18 months before gradually incorporating solid food into their diet.
Conservation and Outlook
The conservation status of walrus populations varies by subspecies and region. The IUCN Red List currently classifies the overall walrus species as “Vulnerable.” The Atlantic walrus subspecies is listed as “Near Threatened,” while the Pacific walrus is categorized as “Data Deficient,” indicating a lack of comprehensive population data.
Walruses face several threats, with climate change being a concern due to the rapid loss of sea ice. As sea ice retreats, walruses are forced to use coastal haulouts on land more frequently, leading to overcrowding and increased risks of trampling, particularly for calves, and greater exposure to human disturbance. The shrinking ice also means longer, more energy-intensive swims for mothers to reach foraging grounds, potentially separating them from their young. Other threats include human disturbance from increased shipping traffic, oil and gas development, and potential oil spills, which can lead to noise pollution, habitat degradation, and direct mortality.
Conservation efforts focus on protecting walrus habitats through the establishment of marine protected areas and enforcing strict shipping regulations to minimize disturbances and pollution. Research initiatives are ongoing to understand walrus behavior, population dynamics, and the impacts of environmental changes. Collaborative management programs involving government agencies and indigenous communities also play a role in monitoring populations and addressing conservation challenges.