Walrus
Walruses are large size, ‘Vulnerable’, marine mammals that are found in three subspecies across the Arctic regions in the North Pole.
Scientific Name – Odobenusrosmarus
Classification – Odobenus
Gender Names – Male – bull; Female – cow; Baby – cub, pup
Collective Noun – Herd, pod
Length/Size – 2.25m – 3.5m (7.5ft – 11.5ft)
Weight – 400kg – 1,700kg (880lbs – 3,740lbs)
Top Speed – 35kph (22mph)
Life Expectancy – 20 – 30years; up to 40 in captivity
Mating Season – Between January and March
Gestation Period – 15 – 16 months
Special Features – Have long tusks that can grow up to 1m; have limited diving ability
Social Structure – Males and females live in separate herds or subgroups lead by the largest, most dominating and aggressive individual having the longest tusks
Geographical Distribution – Live in a scattered distribution about the North Pole in the Arctic Ocean and subarctic seas of the Northern Hemisphere
Natural Habitat – Shallow shelf regions and the nearby ice floes
World Population – Varies between subspecies
Conservation Status –Vulnerable
Diet – Shellfish, Worms, Snails
Predators – Humans, Killer Whales, Polar Bears