© naturepl.com / Tony Wu
Walrus
The walrus is easily recognised by its sheer size and magnificent tusks. It is a keystone species in Arctic marine ecosystems. The walrus was once threatened by commercial hunting, but today the biggest danger it faces is climate change.
© naturepl.com / Franco Banfi / WWF
Walrus facts
Scientific name
Odobenus rosmarus
Weight
400 to 1800 kg
Length
2.2 to 3.6 m
Population
Atlantic likely 25,000+
Pacific ~200,000
Laptev ~5,000
IUCN Red List status
Vulnerable
More walrus facts
The walrus is a pinniped, or fin-footed mammal, and is related to seals and sea lions. Their skin is covered by a thin layer of small coarse hairs.
Amazing teeth
Their most remarkable features are the long tusks which are surrounded by a mat of stiff bristles. The tusks are used for keeping breathing holes in the ice open, for fighting and for helping the walruses haul themselves out of the water on to an ice floe.
Habitat and Ecology
Walrus migrate with the moving ice floes, but never venture far from the coast as they feed in shallow waters. They can swim to a depth of around 100m to feed on molluscs and other invertebrates, but on average do not go much deeper than 20-30m.
© WWF
Walrus from Space
You can help with walrus conservation from your own home by participating in Walrus from Space!
WWF and British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are asking the public to become ‘walrus detectives’ and help contribute to conservation science by spending as little as thirty minutes searching for walrus in thousands of satellite images taken from space.
Walrus and people
© Wellcome Images / CC-BY
Artists carve walrus ivory, and this practice provides cultural benefits and much-needed income.
© Staffan Widstrand / WWF
Walruses have long played an important role in the culture, economies and diets of Arctic peoples.
