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Fun Walrus Facts for Kids

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  • The scientific name for a walrus is Odobenus Rosmarus. It is latin for tooth walking sea-horse.
  • Walrus is a marine mammal.
  • A male walrus is called a bull.
  • A female walrus is called a cow.
  • A baby walrus is called a calf.
  • Walruses spend half their time on land and the other half in water.
  • There are two sub-species of walruses.  The Atlantic Walrus and the Pacific Walrus.
  • Walruses live in the Northern Hemisphere in the Arctic.
  • Atlantic Walruses live near Northern Canada to Greenland.
  • Pacific Walruses live near Russia and Alaska.
  • The Pacific Walrus are larger than the Atlantic Walrus.
  • Walruses have 4 flippers 2 front flippers and two back flippers.
  • Walruses are grey or brown but turn a pinkish color as they age.
  • Walruses have thick skin and then a layer of blubber.  Their blubber keeps them warm in icy waters.
  • Walruses grow to be 7.5 pounds to 11.5ft.
  • They can weigh up to 4,000 pounds
  • Walrus whiskers are called vibrissae.
  • They have 450 whiskers.
  • Their whiskers are very sensitive and are used to help them locate food.
  • Both male and female walruses have tusks.
  • The males have larger tusks.
  • Walrus tusks are actually their large teeth.
  • Walrus tusks never stop growing.
  • Walruses use their tusks to pull themselves out of the water.
  • Walrus are carnivores.
  • They dive to the bottom of the ocean to search for food used their whiskers.
  • Walruses  like to eat shellfish including clams, mussels, soft corals, sea cucumbers and other things found at the bottom of the ocean.
  • Walruses can dive down 260ft into the ocean.
  • Walruses can hold thier breath under water for up to 30 minutes.
  • Walruses live between 30-40 years in the wild.
  • Walruses have two predators.  The Orca or Killer Whale and the Polar Bear.
  • Female Walruses give birth to their babies on land or on ice floes.
  • Baby walruses weigh between 100-165 pounds!
  • Walruses are an endangered species.
  • There are around 250,000 walruses left in the wild.
  • Walruses were hunted by humans for their blubber and ivory tusks.
  • Humans are no longer allowed to hunt walruses.