Walrus

About the Walrus

Their tusks can reach 1 meter and are used for fighting, hauling onto ice, and creating breathing holes. They have the highest canine-to-body-size ratio of any mammal. They can eat 3,000-6,000 clams in a single feeding session. They use their whiskers to detect shellfish in dark, murky water. Their blubber layer can be 15 cm thick. They are extremely social, gathering in herds of thousands. Males weigh up to 1,700 kg. They have been hunted for ivory, meat, and hides for centuries. Climate change is reducing their sea ice habitat. They are iconic symbols of the Arctic.