Walrus

Walrus at a glance

Need to know

• Walruses are the only living members of the family Odobenidae.
• Both males and females have large, elongated ivory tusks up to 1 meter long.
• They use suction created by their mouths to extract clams and other mollusks from the seafloor.
• Walruses can weigh up to 1,700 kg, making them among the largest pinnipeds.
• They rely on sea ice for resting, breeding, and protection from predators.

About the Walrus

The walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) is a large, social marine mammal found primarily in the Arctic's shallow coastal waters. Known for their distinctive elongated tusks and prominent whiskers, walruses are members of the order Carnivora and are closely related to true seals and sea lions. They play a critical ecological role in their habitats and are iconic symbols of Arctic wildlife.

Walruses feed by diving to the seafloor and suctioning up bivalve mollusks and other invertebrates. Adapted for life in cold, icy environments, they use thick, wrinkled skin and a dense layer of blubber for insulation. Walruses rest on sea ice in large groups and maintain complex social structures. Their populations have fluctuated due to historical overhunting and recent environmental changes, particularly the loss of sea ice due to climate change.

Physical characteristics

Size: 2.7 to 3.7 meters (males slightly larger than females). Weight: 800 to 1,700 kg (males); 600 to 1,250 kg (females). Lifespan: 25-30 years average; up to 40 years maximum.

• Enormous ivory tusks in both sexes
• Thick, wrinkled, brownish-pink skin
• Dense whiskers (vibrissae) around the snout
• Blubber layer up to 15 cm thick
• Long, flat flippers

Notable species

• Atlantic Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) — Vulnerable. Shallow coastal waters and ice floes of the North Atlantic Arctic Regions: Greenland Sea, Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Hudson Bay, Labrador Sea, Barents Sea.
• Pacific Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) — Near Threatened. Shallow continental shelf regions with seasonal sea ice in the North Pacific Arctic Regions: Bering Sea, Chukchi Sea, Laptev Sea, East Siberian Sea, coastal waters off Alaska, coastal waters off Chukotka.
• Laptev Walrus (disputed subspecies) (Odobenus rosmarus laptevi) — Data Deficient. Laptev Sea coastal and offshore pack ice Regions: Laptev Sea.

Habitat and range

Original range: Coastal Arctic Ocean regions throughout the Northern Hemisphere including both Atlantic and Pacific sectors.

Current distribution: Walruses are found along the continental shelves and shallow coastal seas of the Arctic Ocean, from the Bering and Chukchi seas in the Pacific to Greenland, the Barents, and Kara seas in the Atlantic.

Preferred environments: Shallow continental shelf seas, Coastal ice floes and pack ice, Polynyas (areas of open water in sea ice), Nearshore areas with soft, muddy or sandy sea floors

Regions: Bering Sea, Chukchi Sea, Laptev Sea, East Siberian Sea, Greenland Sea, Hudson Bay, Barents Sea, Labrador Sea, Canadian Arctic Archipelago

Where to see Walrus

• Point Lay, Alaska (Chukchi Sea) — July to October. Large groups haul out on sandy beaches when sea ice is minimal.
• Svalbard, Barents Sea — May to August. Walrus can be seen on ice floes and at haul-out sites; accessible by boat tours.
• Nunavut, Canada — May to July. Best seen on Arctic expeditions; look for groups resting on ice.

Behavior and diet

Diet: Mainly bivalve mollusks (clams), but also worms, snails, crustaceans, and occasionally fish or seal carcasses.

Social structure: Highly social; form large, mixed-age herds, especially during breeding and haul-out seasons. Males compete for dominance in complex social hierarchies.

Communication: Use a variety of vocalizations (clicks, bell sounds, roars, grunts) underwater and on land; tactile communication and visual displays are important in social interactions.

• Use powerful suction with their mouths to extract prey from shells.
• Haul themselves out of water using tusks.
• Males display elaborate vocalizations and bell-like sounds underwater during breeding season.
• Group haul-outs on ice or land may include thousands of individuals.

Interactions with other animals

• Polar bear (predator): Polar bears occasionally prey on walrus calves and weakened adults, usually at haul-out sites.
• Orca (killer whale) (predator): Orcas are known to target walruses, particularly calves, in some Arctic waters.
• Clams and marine invertebrates (prey): Walruses feed extensively on benthic (bottom-dwelling) invertebrates by digging in the sea floor.

Conservation

IUCN Red List status: Vulnerable

Threats

• Climate change and loss of sea ice
• Oil and gas exploration and spills
• Disturbance from shipping and industrial activity
• Historical and ongoing subsistence hunting

Conservation efforts

• International hunting regulations (e.g., CITES protection)
• Restrictions and monitoring of subsistence hunting
• Arctic marine protected areas establishment
• Research on climate adaptation and ice loss impact

How to help

• Support efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Donate to Arctic conservation and research organizations
• Promote responsible Arctic tourism with minimal disturbance
• Encourage policy-making for Arctic marine protection

Walrus facts for kids

Walruses are big animals that live in the cold Arctic and have huge tusks and whiskers! They love to eat clams and rest together on the ice. Walruses use their tusks to help climb onto the ice and to show who is in charge.

• Walruses can weigh as much as a small car!
• Baby walruses (calves) can swim just a few hours after birth.
• Their whiskers help them feel for food on the bottom of the ocean.
• Walruses make lots of strange sounds, like barks, grunts, and bell-ringing noises.
• They can hold their breath underwater for up to 30 minutes!

Did you know? Did you know that walruses can use their giant tusks like ice-picks to pull themselves out of the water and onto the ice?

Watch & learn

• Walruses: Life on the Edge of the Arctic — BBC Earth. Explore the fascinating lives of walruses in the Arctic, focusing on their social behaviors, motherhood, and survival challenges amidst a changing climate. BBC Earth’s breathtaking cinematography provides an up-close look at Odobenus rosmarus.
• The Mighty Walrus: Giants of the North — National Geographic. National Geographic’s documentary covers the unique adaptations and colony life of walruses, highlighting their tusks, feeding habits, and the threats posed by melting ice in the Arctic circle.
• Walrus Wonders: Survival on the Ice — Smithsonian Channel. This feature from Smithsonian Channel details the walrus’s struggle to survive in extreme conditions, with insights into their migration patterns and remarkable underwater foraging skills.
• Arctic Walrus: Secrets of the Ice Giant — PBS Nature. PBS Nature explores the secretive world of the walrus, from births on the ice to their massive gatherings on remote beaches, and the complex impacts of human activity and climate change.
• Walrus: Arctic Giants in Peril — BBC Studios. A gripping look at the real-world challenges facing walruses today, with rare footage of their massive haul-outs and expert commentary on their role in Arctic ecosystems.