WALRUS

Size: The walrus is the largest type of seal or fin-footed mammal. Adult males (bulls) can reach 4 meters in length and weigh from 800 - 1700 kilos. Females (cows) measure about 2.5 meters long and weigh from 400 - 1250 kilos. Atlantic walruses are slightly smaller than Pacific walruses.

Physical Features: Distinctive whiskers called vibrissae give the walrus a mustached appearance. These highly sensitive, quill-like whiskers help the walrus detect food during its underwater dives. A thick layer of blubber insulates the walrus. Blubber may be up to 15 centimeters thick.

Social behavior: Walruses are highly social animals and are almost always found in herds, numbering from hundreds to several thousand individuals. They prefer snow-covered moving pack ice or ice floes.

Diet: The walrus' favorite foods are bottom-dwelling invertebrates, particularly clams, as well as other kinds of invertebrates including worms, snails, squids, and crabs. Other dietary items include tunicates, fish, and the occasional seal. Walruses will sometimes also feed on the carcasses of dead whales.

Lifespan: The maximum lifespan is about 40 years.

Interesting Fact: Walruses spend about two-thirds of their lives in the water.

Where to find them: The polar ice sheet circling the Northern Hemisphere.