The walrus is a large marine mammal found in the Arctic waters of the Northern Hemisphere, easily recognized by its long tusks, present in both sexes, and its thick layer of blubber and wrinkled, sparsely haired skin. It feeds mainly on bottom-dwelling invertebrates such as clams, which it locates using sensitive whiskers along the seafloor and extracts using suction, and its tusks are used primarily for hauling its bulky body out of the water onto ice and for social displays and dominance contests rather than for feeding. Walruses are highly social, gathering in large groups on ice floes or beaches called haul-outs, and their dependence on sea ice for resting between dives makes the species vulnerable to the effects of a warming Arctic climate.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) ThreatsBiological Resource Use 3 Relationship to People Living or ExtinctDerived from this species' own Conservation Status: this atlas's IUCN category list has no Extinct value, so a set conservation-status is itself evidence of living status (w-bfill-g5-0924 browse backfill). Disputed
Conservation StatusTwo of the three walrus subspecies (Atlantic, Pacific) are IUCN Least Concern; the Laptev Sea population is IUCN Data Deficient. The article taxobox carries a single species-wide VU code that conflicts with its own prose; the prose sentence is what is cited here rather than the infobox code. Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceProminent tusks and whiskers with considerable bulk; Pacific males can exceed 2,000 kg, exceeded in size among pinnipeds only by the two elephant seal species. 1 Scientific Name Population Estimate Connections
Child Taxon Of
In Biome
Source Walrus (Wikipedia)
In Ecosystem
Source World Wildlife Fund
Source World Wildlife Fund
In the Other Atlases
- Also in Geography Atlas: Belgium, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: Denmark, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: Ireland, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: North America, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: Norway, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: South Asia, found in there.
Sources
1. Walrus (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLead section, opening sentence
The walrus (Odobenus rosmarus; plural walrus or walruses) is a large pinniped marine mammal with discontinuous distribution about the North Pole in the Arctic Ocean and subarctic seas of the Northern Hemisphere.
Relationship with humans, Conservation section
Currently, two of the three walrus subspecies are listed as least concern by the IUCN, while the third is data deficient.
Ecology, Range and habitat section, 2018 estimate sentence
As of 2018, the global walrus population is estimated to be 112,500 mature individuals.
Anatomy section, opening sentence
Adult walrus are characterised by prominent tusks and whiskers, and considerable bulk; adult males in the Pacific can weigh more than 2,000 kilograms (4,400 pounds) and, among pinnipeds, are exceeded in size only by the two species of elephant seals.
- In Biome: Marine, Wikipedia 'Walrus': lives in shallow Arctic/subarctic seas, spending significant time on sea ice
- In Biome: Sea Ice, Wikipedia 'Walrus': lives in shallow Arctic/subarctic seas, spending significant time on sea ice
View the Source 2. EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014)
3. Wikipedia: Walrus
System/realm (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
The walrus (Odobenus rosmarus; plural walrus or walruses) is a large pinniped marine mammal with discontinuous distribution about the North Pole in the Arctic Ocean and subarctic seas of the Northern Hemisphere.
Threat (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
During the 19th century and the early 20th century, walrus were widely hunted for their blubber, walrus ivory, leather, and meat; in this period, the walrus population dropped rapidly all around the Arctic region.
Relationship to people (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
During the 19th century and the early 20th century, walrus were widely hunted for their blubber, walrus ivory, leather, and meat; in this period, the walrus population dropped rapidly all around the Arctic region.
View the SourceWikidata: Walrus
Catalogue of Life
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of LifeChild Taxon Of: OdobenidaeView the Source World Wildlife Fund
World Wildlife Fund- In Ecosystem: Arctic Ocean
- In Ecosystem: Svalbard
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