The walrus weighs. Walrus. Photos and videos of walruses. Description, reproduction, interesting facts about walruses. Walrus: description, structure, characteristics. What does a walrus look like

Walruses are animals that can easily tolerate cold weather. This name has become a household name, because this is how people bathing in the ice hole are called. Walruses are preferred in colder climates. They belong to the pinniped family, and it is necessary to look for these representatives in the northern hemisphere. They are one of the largest animals of this type, ranking second after elephant seals. In today's article, we will consider everything that affects walruses.

Description and habitat

1. Almost all their life, these animals are in the aquatic environment, they get food and are not afraid of ice water. As a result, the accumulated fat reserves subsequently warm the walruses, giving them energy. As for the overall characteristics, adults can reach 5 meters in length. Their hull weight is approximately 1.5 tons. Individuals of female sex are slightly smaller, they stretch up to 3 meters and weigh 900 kg.
2. If you look at these pinnipeds, you will immediately notice the impressive size of the fangs. They are located on the upper jaw and go down. In some individuals, the size of the tusks sometimes reaches 70 cm. They are required for protection from the enemies that walruses have in the natural environment. Also, these fangs contribute to the convenient extraction of food from the bottom. Another aspect is that when a walrus climbs onto the ice, it does so with the help of tusks, clinging to a tree like cats with claws.
3. Due to the fact that animals are constantly in ice water, they need a decent layer of fat for warming. It is about 15 cm. On average, more than 23% of the total body volume is taken by fat reserves. A walrus is a warm-blooded mammal. When an animal is in the water for a long period of time, its blood circulates more slowly, drains from the skin, so the animal appears light.
4. After a successful exit to the surface of the ice floe, everything returns to its former course. The blood circulates vigorously, the individual acquires the same gray-brownish tone. Young animals have a short coat. Over the course of the life cycle, it disappears, the skin becomes smoothed. Considering the habitat, it should be said that these animals are more common in the Arctic.
5. There are some populations in Iceland, Greenland, Red Sea, Spitsbergen. In summer, individuals congregate in the Bristol Bay area, as well as in Alaska and the Treadmill Sea. Individuals of the presented breed group are ranked among those animals that constantly migrate. Therefore, you can find them even in Siberia (eastern part).

Lifestyle

1. By their characteristics, these individuals do not belong to aggressive creatures. Accommodation is carried out colonially, they huddle in groups of 25 individuals on average. However, when the mating season begins, there can be several thousand animals in one place. Males are aggressive at this time, as they try to conquer females and participate in skirmishes. When walruses get ashore, females take on the role of caring mothers, and males compete and measure their tusks.
2. Representatives of the genus, located on different sides of the flock, act as watchmen. They detect an approaching threat and give signals so that their fellows can provide support. When the alarm is heard, the flock immediately goes into the water space. A crush can form, so young animals often suffer. Females boldly close their cubs from large individuals.
3. The main enemy of these animals is the polar bear. He conducts a full-scale walrus hunt, subsequently feasting on them. Bears are not always able to defeat walruses, so they often attack in flocks. As for land, bears are stronger in this environment, but reinforcements usually arrive at walruses. Bears, unable to feast on large pinnipeds, attack babies and weakened animals.
4. In the water space, among the opponents of walruses, a killer whale can be considered. She is famous for her sharp teeth and strong grip. Dimensional features also exceed those of walruses, so they swim out and get ashore in an attempt to escape.
5. It has already been mentioned that walruses are classified as schooling mammals. On the rookeries, their number sometimes reaches several thousand. Each individual has its own role. The dominant position is assigned to the largest male, he runs everything. If males do not start arguments over females, then they live quite peacefully.
6. It should also be mentioned that the animals presented make excellent swimmers. Some of them forget so much about the time when looking for food that they are in the icy water for days.

Nutrition

1. The discussed representatives of the family are more common along the coastline. However, you can find individuals a little further. They always try to look for food near their main habitat. Sometimes they dive to a depth of 75 meters in order to get a meal from the bottom for themselves and their offspring. Most of the basic food is molluscs, worms and crustaceans of all kinds.
2. Due to the presence of tusks of impressive size, the animal easily plows the bottom, taking out mollusks. Then he uses fins to eliminate the sink and leave only the body, which will be used in the future. The walrus sends the fragments to the bottom. To saturate one large individual, you need to consume about 50 kg. shellfish per day. These individuals practically do not lean on fish. They can eat it if there is nothing else to eat.
3. If an adult large-sized male obtains food for himself, he will lead his hunt. Will start attacking seals, narwhals. It is they who act as predators dangerous to humans. When a walrus tastes meat, he will not give it up anymore. He will constantly find such food for himself. The northern people call such animals keluch.

Enemies of the walrus

1. Often the natural enemies of the presented individuals are precisely killer whales. They can overtake walruses in the water. As for land, polar bears often hunt animals. We should also mention the person. In this case, natural selection plays no role. People are constantly exterminating walruses.
2. It is the indigenous peoples of the North that often hunt them. People kill them just for food. That is, there is no mass extermination. Northern people do not kill animals just for fun or for fun. The situation changed a lot when the white man began the barbaric extermination of individuals.
3. Poachers began mass extermination of walruses for their tusks. It was several decades ago. Currently, the animal population has declined sharply. Now the giants of the Arctic are under protection and listed in the Red Book. The problem is that animals are on the brink of extinction.

Reproduction

1. Unfortunately, reproduction of individuals is extremely rare. The problem is that walruses reach puberty only at the age of 6 years. The mating season for animals falls in the spring. At such a time, a real struggle for females flares up between the males.
2. It is noteworthy that a couple has only 1 baby at a time, in rare cases 2. In addition, a female can bear offspring only once every 4 years. Pregnancy lasts a whole year. After that, a cub weighing about 30 kg is born. For the next year, he feeds exclusively on breast milk.
3. Parents continue to protect offspring up to 3 years of age. Only at this time their canines begin to grow. Cubs begin to get their own food on their own. At the age of 2 years, the baby's diet begins to be varied. He already eats everything that his parents offer him. Also, the cub does not stop drinking breast milk.
4. The life span of such individuals is about 30 years. Moreover, 20 of which they continue to grow. Maximum animals live up to 35 years. It is interesting that the population of walruses on the whole planet numbers only 250 thousand individuals. There is another unique species - Laptenevsky.
5. It is listed in the Red Book, and only about 20 thousand individuals remain on earth. This situation happened due to commercial hunting for animals. Poachers exterminated them mainly because of their fangs. Various crafts and weapon grips were often made from such material.
6. As for the local people, people ate walrus meat and used their skins. In the modern world, industrial hunting is prohibited throughout the world. Walruses are allowed to hunt only local residents, for whom it is simply necessary.
7. Northern peoples eat meat from individuals, and they also use animal fat for lighting. Fangs are needed for folklore crafts. In addition, the climate change also affected the number of walruses. Due to global warming, the population of individuals has decreased.
8. The ice began to melt and the walruses had less space for rookeries. Because of this, it became difficult to get food. Cubs are forced to be alone for a long time in the recreation area until the mother brings the prey. In the aggregate, all this negatively affected the reproductive function of walruses.

Population state

1. The commercial fishing of the Atlantic walrus flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is for this reason that the animals have almost completely disappeared. Very few individuals remained. In the modern world, hunting for them is prohibited all over the world. Only northern indigenous peoples are exempt.
2. Only such people can get themselves a few animals at a certain time. At the same time, the sale of meat, fat and other parts of the animal's body is prohibited. It is allowed to hunt walruses exclusively for their own needs. In European cuisine, the cooked tongue of the presented animal is considered a delicacy.
3. Northern peoples eat meat of individuals all winter. In addition, the locals preserve animal flippers and store them until spring. As for bones and tusks, they are used to create various tools and decorations. The thick hide is good for boats and houses.
4. In the modern world, there are already quite cheap and affordable building materials, so there is no need to exterminate walruses in large quantities. However, not all peoples admit new technologies into their world. Someone prefers to live the same way as 100 years ago.

Walruses are considered the oldest animals on the planet, unfortunately, people became the reason for their mass extermination. However, it is no secret to anyone that it is a person who is the cause of many troubles and catastrophes. Currently, walruses are listed in the Red Book and are under protection.

Video: walrus (Odobenus rosmarus)

The walrus is a marine animal of the mammal class of the walrus family. The beast has a very distinctive appearance, so it is easy to recognize it: it has its characteristic long tusks. They live mainly in the northern seas and oceans. As a rule, they live in a herd. A rather rigid hierarchy is observed in the herd.

General information about walruses

Biologists distinguish three subspecies of walruses:

1. Atlantic;
2. Pacific;
3. Laptevsky.

The first and third types are listed in the Red Book. The Atlantic subspecies live in a region where human activity is especially noticeable. Pacific subspecies is more common, therefore, today the northern peoples living near the ocean are allocated a quota for its production.

Some people ask the question: is the walrus a fish or is it an animal? Since it belongs to the class of mammals, he is definitely an animal, a large sea animal. In terms of size, it is second only to whales and elephant seals.

Recently, environmentalists are increasingly sounding the alarm: because of global warming, the area of \u200b\u200bice is decreasingon which mating of this species takes place. This can seriously affect its numbers.

Walrus appearance

Before talking about the appearance of the animal, it is worth noting that much in their appearance depends on the subspecies. This is a big animal. The body weight of adult males can range from 800 kilograms to two tons... Pacific beasts are larger. Females weigh one third less. The length also depends on the gender of the animal. Males can grow up to 4.5 meters and females up to 3.7 meters in length.

The powerful body of walruses is covered with very thick skin. Near the neck, its thickness can reach 10 centimeters. The subcutaneous fat layer is also quite thick.... When the animal is young, the skin is brown, but with age, it turns pale.

The skin is covered with hairs of yellow-brown color, but animals usually go bald by old age.

Walruses have a wide head, due to the base of the tusks. The muzzle is covered with numerous mustaches. The eyes of the animal are small, and there are no external ears at all. There is practically no tail... These animals live for about 40 years, and they grow up at the age of 6 to 10 years.

The most recognizable part of walrus anatomy is their tusks. They can grow up to 1 meter... It is noticed that the larger the tusks, the higher the male occupies in the hierarchy.

And one more interesting fact. Walruses have a very long bone in the penis - 50 centimeters.

Distribution in nature

Walrus populations can be found in the north of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and the Arctic seas. They live on drifting ice in the winter. In the summer they move to land.

Representatives of the Pacific subspecies spend the summer in different places:

In the off-season, they are located in the area between Alaska and Chukotka, and in winter they move to warmer regions.

The Atlantic subspecies can be found in a large region between eastern Canada and the western Russian Arctic. There are several distinct areas where walruses live... Previously, this animal was very common in nature, but due to hunting, their number is now very small.

The Laptev subspecies lives in the Laptev Sea region.

How the walrus behaves

Animals of this species prefer to live in a herd. Mutual assistance is well developed in their teams; they try to protect each other in case of danger. All adults look after little walruses, provide support. The herd is guarded by sentries who, with a roar or some other signal, warn relatives of danger.

Animals feed mainly on molluscs, but sometimes they eat fish and carrion. The famous tusks help to catch shellfish. In addition to getting food, tusks are used for protection, movement on ice, and fights with other males.

They have an excellent sense of smell, they sense a person at a great distance. Hearing is also well developed. The female is able to hear the roar of her cub, being two kilometers away. The equanimity of walruses is their distinguishing feature... They look around without turning their heads.

These sea animals are excellent swimmers and will not be easy for the person in the boat to resist. The animal itself will not attack itbut can sink the boat as a defense. It is capable of diving to a depth of 180 meters.

The main danger in the wild for him is polar bears and killer whales.

Walrus hunting

Walrus hunting is a traditional trade for northern peoples: Chukchi, Eskimos and so on. All parts of the animal are used by hunters on the farm: skin, fat, meat, tusks and bones, entrails.

Today, walrus hunting is under the strict control of the countries where these animals live. The northern peoples are allocated a special quota for the extraction of the animal, since its meat is an integral part of their diet.

a commercial walrus hunting is prohibited all over the world... Canada, the United States, Russia and Denmark are taking all measures to preserve walrus populations in the wild.

Ecology

Basic:

Walruses are among the largest pinniped marine mammals. Males reach up to 1,700 kg, females - up to 1,200 kg. Among pinnipeds, walruses are second only to elephant seals. Their fins are very flexible and resemble hands with 5 fingers.

Walruses have a wide head, small eyes and are easily recognizable by their two protruding tusks. Moreover, both males and females have tusks.

Walruses use their tusks during fights, they help defend against predators, as well as pull their powerful bodies out of the water onto the ice. Walrus tusks are actually long tusks, and each such tooth weighs up to 5 kg.

Walrus whiskers are not hair, but very sensitive tactile organs, somewhat reminiscent of a cat's whiskers. Animals use them to find food underwater. They feed on a wide variety of ocean creatures off ice shelves: molluscs, worms, snails, soft crabs, crayfish, shrimps, sea cucumbers, tunicates, and slow-moving fish. Some walruses can even hunt fur seals, small whales and seabirds, and sometimes also feed on carrion.

Walruses have only two natural enemies: the killer whale and the polar bear. These predators mainly prey on baby walruses.

Walruses can often be seen relaxing on the coast or on ice floes. They can remain submerged for up to 30 minutes before they need to breathe fresh air. On land, walruses try to keep in large groups - from 10 to several thousand individuals.

Females begin to give birth at the age of 7-8 years and usually give birth to only one cub every 3 years. Pregnancy lasts 15 months, and after birth, the baby needs help from the mother for another 2 years. In the wild, walruses live for about 30 years.

Habitat:

Walruses require shallow ice shelf waters and icy Arctic and subarctic waters for life. The largest population of walruses lives in the Pacific Ocean. They spend summers in northern Alaska and winters off the coast of Russia. Another walrus population, much smaller, is found in the Canadian Arctic.

Conservation status: insufficient data

Walrus hunting was banned in Canada in the 1930s and in the United States in the 1940s. Although the global walrus population is still quite large, it is believed to be constantly decreasing. According to some estimates, about 250 thousand walruses live on the planet.

Climate change is expected to have a serious negative impact on walrus populations, especially those found in the Pacific Ocean. If the ice becomes thinner and begins to disappear, walruses have less resting space and have to swim more.

Researchers are working on projects to study the behavior of walruses in the face of climate change, hoping to learn more about their reactions and how they can be helped. Another problem for the future walruses is that they have a rather long gap between generations - 21 years.

In Latin, the name of the walrus is Odobenus rosmarus can be translated as "the sea horse walking with the teeth"... When a walrus uses its protruding tusks to haul its heavy body out of the water onto an ice floe, it looks like it is "walking" with its tusks, hence the name.

Walrus tusks can be up to 1 meter in length.

Walrus skin usually makes up about 20 percent of their total body weight. There is a layer of fat under the skin about 15 centimeters thick, which allows the animals to keep warm in the ice-cold water.

In the Bay of San Francisco, fossilized remains of a walrus, 28 thousand years old, have been found, indicating that walruses were once distributed much further south in the Pacific Ocean during the last ice age.

Walruses suck meat from clam shells - this is their favorite food. The oral cavity of the walrus has a unique shape that allows them to easily get their food.

Walruses are able to slow their heart rate in order to withstand the cold temperatures of the icy waters of the Arctic.

Taxonomy

Type: chordate
Class: mammals
Order: predatory
Family: walrus
Genus: walruses
Species: walrus
Subspecies: Pacific walrus
International scientific name: OdobenusrosmarusdivergensIlliger, 1811

Appearance

In general, walruses differ sharply from other pinnipeds. Adult males are 3-4 m long, weigh up to one and a half tons, females are slightly less (weight less than a ton). The animals inhabiting the Pacific sector of the Arctic are especially large, and the Atlantic walrus is no more than 3.8 m in length, which, however, is also a lot. A large massive body, a thick neck to which a tiny head with barely noticeable eyes is "attached", wide fins - all this is a walrus. On the front edge of a bluntly chopped off muzzle, short, very hard and thick vibrises grow, from under which huge pointed tusks-fangs protrude far downward. They are especially large in males (up to 80 cm, diameter at the base - 8 cm), in females they are not so powerful. There are cases, however, rare, when a walrus grows 2 pairs of such canines. Animals use them to plow the bottom in search of food, use them in fights, sometimes use them as a support when they get out of the water onto land. The walls of the esophagus form a special kind of invaginations - rather capacious (up to 50 liters) bags, which animals can fill at their discretion with water or air. This makes it easier to dive, and allows you to effortlessly stay on the water.

The skin is very thick, all in deep folds, in males on the neck it is covered with some kind of bumps and bumps. The coat of walruses, although very short, is still quite thick, dark brown in color. In adult animals, it thins, in places it crawls out altogether, noticeably reddens. There is a thick layer of fat under the skin, up to 10 cm in some parts of the body.

Spread

The walrus is one of the most "northern" pinnipeds. It is distributed along the shallow margins of the Arctic Ocean and neighboring areas of the Atlantic and the Barents Sea. Animals penetrate into the deep-water regions of the Central Arctic only occasionally on drifting ice floes. Previously, the range was wider, the animal was common both off the northern coasts of Europe and south of Alaska. Now there are no permanent settlements there, only with ice sometimes walruses carry them to more southern regions - for example, they drift along the coast of Kamchatka and enter the Sea of \u200b\u200bOkhotsk.

The entire walrus population is divided into several subspecies, or “herds,” as experts call them. These are the Atlantic walrus, the Laptev walrus (inhabits the Laptev Sea) and the Pacific. They differ in some morphological characters, characteristics of reproduction, migration routes.

According to the latest estimate based on the results of a global census conducted in 1990, the current population pacific walrus is approximately 200 thousand individuals. Most of the Pacific walrus population spends summer north of the Bering Strait, in the Chukchi Sea along the northern coast of eastern Siberia, near Wrangel Island, in the Beaufort Sea along the northern coast of Alaska, and also occurs in the waters between these places. A small number of males are found in the summer in Anadyr Bay, on the southern coast of the Chukotka Peninsula in Siberia, and in Bristol Bay. In spring and autumn, they concentrate from the western coast of Alaska to the Anadyr Bay. They winter in the southern parts of the Bering Sea, along the eastern coast of Siberia south to the northern part of the Kamchatka Peninsula, and along the southern coast of Alaska. Fossilized walrus remains of 28,000 years old have been found near the San Francisco Bay, showing the spread of walrus all the way to the shores of northern California during the last ice age.

Lifestyle

Walruses live only in shallow waters with an abundance of bottom molluscs, which they feed on. Animals do not live in deep-water areas, since they cannot dive to the bottom in search of food. In the winter months, these giants lay down on drifting ice, and in the summer on sandy or pebble shoals. These animals are collectivists, they do not have individual habitats. However, each group adheres to a certain stretch of the coast, which it reaches over a number of years. During migrations, walruses even lie near villages, albeit for a short time, just to rest and set off again.

From several dozen to several hundred walruses gather in the rookeries, and in the most favorable places, where the animal is not disturbed, even several thousand. Harems are not peculiar to these pinnipeds: the main "cell" of the herd is a family of a male, a female and 2-3 of their cubs of different ages. In some places, the beds are mixed - males and females with calves lie side by side; in others, they are separate: old males stay away from the water, and the rest of the animals - at the very edge of the water. If an island or ice floe is small, they are covered with a continuous layer of a kind of living "carpet". The animals lie very tightly to each other, most often on their sides, with their heads resting on their neighbors; if there is not enough space, sometimes they even settle in two layers - yearlings on top of adult animals. Some stay to sleep right in the water: they fill the inner bags with air and swing regularly on the waves in an upright position, like floats, only their heads are visible above the surface.

The rookery is constantly "moving": some animals go into the water to cool down and refresh themselves, others return to nap for an hour or two, and make their way to their place along the backs of the sleeping. They answer them with a gentle rumbling, but from time to time between the boppers instant furious quarrels break out, then powerful tusks are launched. Above the rookery, there is an incessant noise heard from hundreds of meters away: low uterine rumbling, snorting, loud puffing ... disturbed very reluctantly slide into the water. But in case of a sudden fright, the whole lodging becomes agitated, the animals strive to quickly go into the water, not making out the way, right along the carcasses of neighbors, sometimes crushing very small ones. This is used by polar bears when hunting walruses. Walruses find food for themselves at the bottom at a depth of 30-50 meters, the registered dive record is 180 meters. The basis of the diet is molluscs, in smaller quantities they eat crustaceans, as well as worms, sea cucumbers. Sometimes the walrus even manages to catch a fish if he accidentally gets into the midst of the flock. Among solitary burgers, there are rare "killers" that feed on seals: they are distinguished by long thin canines. Such an unexpected predator annoys the seals so much that they usually leave the area of \u200b\u200bits habitat, return to their original place, only if the enemy disappears for any reason.

Reproduction

In late spring, walruses mate, a year later, at about the same time, the female gives birth to one walrus a little more than a meter long, and the newly born "boys" are already larger than the "girls". A few months after birth, canines appear, by the age of one year, their length reaches 9 cm.Up to two years old, walruses feed on milk, and if a walrus brings offspring for two years in a row, she feeds two of her cubs with milk at once - last year's and a young of the year. However, there are few such “mothers-heroines”: usually walruses bring offspring every 2-3 years. At the age of 3, walruses begin to feed on their own: the size of their tusks already allows them to "plow" the seabed. Sexual maturity occurs at 5-6 years of age, growth is completed by 15-20 years, walruses live 35-45 years.

Security measures taken and necessary Walrus hunting is regulated by nature conservation and resource distribution organizations inOf Russia , USA , Canada andDenmark as well as representatives of hunting communities. An estimated four to seven thousand Pacific walruses are harvested inAlaska and in Russia, including a significant part (about 42%) of wounded or lost during hunting animals. Several hundred individuals are seized annually nearGreenland ... The impact of this level of fishery on the population is difficult to assess, as the population size has not been sufficiently determined to date. At the same time, such important parameters asfertility andmortality rate .

Influenceglobal climate change on the walrus population is another factor that needs to be considered. In particular, the reduction in the extent and thickness of pack ice is well documented. It is on this ice that walruses form rookeries during the reproductive period for childbirth and mating. As a hypothesis, it is assumed that a decrease in the thickness of pack ice inBering Sea has led to a reduction in suitable recreational areas close to optimal eating areas. As a result, the duration of the absence of the mother near the nurtured one increases, which ultimately leads to nutritional stress or a decrease in the reproductive contribution of females. However, until now, scientists have a small amount of data, which prevents them from making a reliable conclusion about the impact of climate change on the trend of population size changes.

Currently listedIUCN walrus status is defined as "Insufficient data". The Atlantic and Laptev subspecies inhabiting Russia are included inRed Book of Russia and classified as category 2 (declining in numbers) and category 3 (rare), respectively. Trade in handicrafts made from walrus tusks and bones is regulated by an international conventionCITES , Appendix 3. The legislation of the Russian Federation regulates the distribution of trophy products among the indigenous people completely free of charge and only for personal use. Currently, commercial walrus hunting is prohibited in all countries.

Interesting facts related to the animal In Latin, the name of the walrus is Odobenus rosmarus can be translated as "the sea horse walking with the teeth"... When a walrus uses its protruding tusks to haul its heavy body out of the water onto an ice floe, it looks like it is "walking" with its tusks, hence the name. The walrus baculum (the bone contained in the penis) is about 50 cm long. Both in the absolute length of the baculum and in relation to body length, the walrus confidently holds the record among mammals. This is where the curse word "horseradish walrus" came from.

The unique Arctic animal walrus is a marine mammal, the only modern species of the walrus family, and belongs to the pinniped group. An adult walrus is easily recognizable by its prominent tusks. As the largest representatives of pinnipeds, walruses are second only to elephant seals in size. But since these species live in different areas, the walrus is the largest in its habitat. Two subspecies of walrus are known: Pacific and Atlantic.

The walrus is a large animal. The maximum body length is 5 m, weight - 1500 kg. Males are on average 3.5 m long, weighing up to 1000 kg. Females are slightly smaller. Their body length is up to 3 m, weight is from 700 to 800 kg. All adult walruses have fangs that protrude from their mouths. The canines are 60-80 cm long, each weighing about 3 kg.

The walrus has a wide muzzle. The upper lip is decorated with thick and long whiskers or vibrissae, which are similar to a brush and are necessary for an animal to detect molluscs under water. The eyes are short-sighted, small. The walrus has very poor eyesight, but it is compensated by a developed scent. The outer ears are absent; short yellow-brown hairs grow on the skin. As the walrus grows, it loses its hairline and becomes completely naked.

Walrus skin is thick and firm, 4 cm thick, and even more in the chest area. That is, it is a kind of powerful armor for protection. In males, it is covered with mounds. The front flippers of the walrus are highly flexible, mobile and calloused. The back flippers bend at the heels. Thanks to this, the animal can lean on them when moving on stones, ground and ice.

Walruses live in coastal waters at depths of up to 50 meters and search for their food at the bottom with the help of sensitive vibrissae. The diet is based on shellfish. The walrus, as it were, “plows” the soil with its powerful tusks and the shells rise upward. The animal rubs them with its front flippers in order to crack the shell, which then settles to the bottom, and the bodies of the mollusks float in the water and the walrus eats them. An adult walrus needs about 50 kg of shellfish per day.

In addition, the walrus can feed on a variety of worms, crustaceans and carrion. Fish is eaten very reluctantly and rarely, only if there is no other food. Large males can attack seals and narwhal. But such cases are rare. Cannibalism is not typical.

Walruses are distributed over a fairly wide range, in most of the coastal waters of the Arctic Ocean. Rookeries are found in Greenland, Spitsbergen and Iceland, on Novaya Zemlya and in the Kara Sea.

A large population of walruses lives near the Bering Strait and in the Chukchi Sea, on Wrangel Island and along the shores of Eastern Siberia. In spring and autumn, animals move to Anadyr Bay and to the western shores of Alaska.

Separately, the Laptev population of walruses (about 10,000) is distinguished, which live in the central and western regions of the Laptev Sea, on Kotelny Island, Bolshoy Lyakhovsky Island, and in the Lena River delta.

A sign of sexual dimorphism for walruses is the slightly smaller size of females compared to males. In addition, in males in the chest area, the skin is covered with characteristic tubercles, which are absent in females.

Large, clumsy on land walruses inhabit the Far North, live close to the shores and move very little. As sociable animals, walruses live in herds, tend to protect each other in case of danger. On the rocky shores, walruses arrange spectacular rookeries, they lie closely nestling against each other. Such a herd always has sentries, who, in a dangerous situation, begin to roar and push their relatives, after which all walruses rush into the water together and can stay under its surface for up to 10 minutes. Walruses always help and support each other, especially touchingly they protect the kids. If the walrus is tired of swimming, he can safely climb onto the back of any member of the herd.

The purpose of the huge walrus tusks is interesting. Previously, it was believed that with their help the animal digs up mollusks at the bottom of the seas. However, scientists now point to the social role of canines, which are used in establishing seniority between males, in fights for females and to demonstrate threat. The walrus also uses its powerful fangs like an anchor to hold onto ice. It was the latter ability that gave the genus the Greek name "odobenus", which translates as "walking on the teeth."

Reproduction in walruses is very slow. Males and females become sexually mature at the age of 5 years. The mating season begins in the spring, in April-May. Males often fight each other at this time. The duration of pregnancy is 340-370 days. One baby is born, occasionally twins. The weight of the newborn is about 30 kg, the body is up to 80 cm long. During the first year of life, the mother feeds the baby with milk. After a year, its fangs become long enough for the young walrus to get its own food. But up to two years he continues to live with his mother. The next birth in the female occurs only after 4 years. And only 5% of all females bring offspring per year. Walrus growth continues up to 20 years. Average life expectancy is 30 years. Maximum - 35 years.

The mighty pinnacle has only three enemies. The first place is occupied by humans, followed by polar bears and killer whales. People killed walruses for meat, skins, fat and fangs. But today only Chukchi and Eskimos are allowed to hunt walruses. Polar bears usually attack young walrus or old and sick individuals, but they rarely do this, since it is still quite difficult for bears to cope with walruses. Killer whales attack walruses in the water, a flock of 15 killer whales can deal with 50 walruses. The walrus can escape from the killer whale only if he has time to get ashore.

• When the two throat sacs of the walrus are filled with air, its neck becomes like an inflated ball. The contracted muscles of the esophagus do not allow air to escape, and the walrus becomes a kind of float. His body is able to stay vertically near the surface of the water for a long time. In this way, the animal sleeps right in the water, and above the water only its nose and neck are visible.
• During the 18th and 19th centuries, people actively hunted walruses, and the Atlantic population was practically exterminated. Walrus fishing is now prohibited by all countries, and an exception is made only for indigenous peoples (Chukchi, Eskimos). We hunted walruses in late summer. All parts of the killed animal were used. The meat was canned, fins were fermented, fangs and bones were historically used as tools and ornamental material. The lard was reheated and used for heating and lighting. A strong skin was put on ropes, used in the construction of housing, boat sheathing. The intestines and stomach were made into waterproof capes. Modern technologies have made it possible to replace most of these materials, and indigenous peoples traditionally continue to feed on walrus meat only, and they continue to make crafts from tusks. It is difficult to assess the impact of current production volumes on the population status.
• In addition, the decrease in the length and thickness of pack ice, on which walruses form rookeries during the mating season, has a negative effect on the number of walruses. The exact state of the walrus population is currently unknown, the species that live on the territory of Russia are included in the Red Book of Russia.