Male walruses usually mature at the age of 8 to 10 years. Tusks are actually two canine teeth of the animal’s upper jaw and they keep on growing until for about 15 years. These tusks are actually canine teeth and can grow to be about three feet (one meter) long. They can slow down their heartbeat to withstand the chilly water temperatures and to help them stay under water for as long as ten minutes. A male walrus is called a bull. The most iconic feature of walruses are their huge tusks which are used for many functions. Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) is a large marine mammal and it is the only living species from its family and genus. Tusks can be found on males and females and are in fact canine teeth which continue to grow throughout life and in males can reach 3 feet (1 metre) in length. (It’s completely free, you can unsubscribe at any time, and we’ll never share your details.). Walruses have an air sac under their throat, which helps them float in the water so they can sleep! All Rights Reserved. In males, tusks can be as long as 100 centimeters in length while in females, these can grow for up to 80 centimeters. In this article we’ll learn more about these marine giants. They feast mostly on shellfish, normally found at the dark seafloor. The whiskers of their moustaches (called mustacial vibrissae) are incredibly sensitive and aid in food detection. News and facts about animals, natural history and science. One function is to help in hauling their huge, heavy bodies out of the icy waters onto the ice. Walruses live in the Northern Hemisphere in the Arctic. Walruses spend half their time on land and the other half in water. 2020 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Walrus skin becomes pink-red rather than the usual grey-brown when sun-bathing on the ice. The adult walruses are prone to a number of diseases like parasites and viruses. It has spindle-shaped body with long ivory tusks and mustaches. Paint a cup blue to look like water. Pacific walruses live in the Seas of Laptev, Bering and Chukchi. “Crabby”, one of our favorite characters, gives step-by-step instructions on how to draw each stroke, while a pencil demonstrates the writing on the screen. They also use their tusks to break breathing holes into ice from below. Today, only people native to the Arctic are legally allowed to hunt walruses. The skin of a walrus is up to 4 cm thick. Click the picture above for more details & to view free sample pages! During the mating season they are quite aggressive. Active Wild Pinterest Active Wild Facebook. The video below shows walruses in their natural environment. Their blubbery bodies provide protection from the chilly Arctic waters. Break up a Styrofoam ball or other Styrofoam and glue it to the rim of the cup. There are around 400 to 700 whiskers (or mustaches) located on its mouth. Every month, the length of a calf grows for about 10 to 15 centimeters. The females measure about 7.5 to 10 feet in length and weigh around 882 to 2,756 pounds. Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) is a large marine mammal and it is the only living species from its family and genus. Learn more amazing facts about these amazing creatures in this video from National Geographic Kids. The Atlantic Walrus and the Pacific Walrus. Walruses can slow their heart rates to deal with freezing temperatures. A female walrus gives birth to a single calf between mid-April and mid-June. It is closely related to eared and true seals. Walrus has cinnamon-brown appearance. The carcasses of seals are also a food source for walruses when shellfish is in short supply. Walruses are commonly found on the ice in the Arctic Circle. Groups of walruses are called herds, and they gather in herds of hundreds on the ice. Atlantic walruses can be found from northeast Canada to Greenland, while Pacific walruses are seen off Russia and Alaska. Here you’ll find many interesting walrus facts for kids. Walruses have wrinkled brown and pink skin, long, coarse whiskers, flat flippers, and lots of blubber on their bodies to keep them warm in the cold Arctic water. Females give birth to a single baby calf in the spring following 15 to 16 months of pregnancy (or very rarely to twins). It has three subspecies: Atlantic Walrus, Pacific Walrus and O. r. laptevi. However, there are some other bottom-dwelling invertebrates on its menu as well including sea cucumbers, worms, crustaceans, gastropods and rarely fishes like polar cod. VideoLink lets you share videos on YouTube easily, without distracting third-party content or advertisements. It has three subspecies: Atlantic Walrus, Pacific Walrus and O. r. laptevi. Mating season occurs between December and March. The population size of walruses is currently unknown. Walrus is a marine mammal. Calves are able to swim as soon as they are born, and live with their mothers until 3 years of age. However, it may look like pale-white in cold water. Their long tusks are useful in many ways. Every year, they cover 1,863 miles in migration. Cookie Cutter Shark Facts for Kids – Cookie Cutter Shark Interesting Facts, Greenland Shark Facts for Kids – Greenland Shark Interesting Facts & Information, Megalodon Shark Facts for Kids – Megalodon Shark Facts and Information, Tasmanian Devil Facts for Kids – Fun Facts & Information, Wedge Tailed Eagle Facts for Kids – Australian Wedge Tailed Eagle Facts, Harpy Eagle Facts for Kids – Harpy Eagle Fun Facts. Dominant males are selected on the basis of age, body size and of course, tusk length. (See directions below.) Its eyes and ears are small. All of our materials are created with passion and care, to make them both entertaining and educational for young learners. We are experienced teachers and artists who promote the use of music and creativity in learning. They are extremely social and snort and bellow loudly at their companions. Walrus Facts For Kids Walruses swim at an average speed to 4.35 mph (7km/h), but can reach speeds of 21.74 mph (35 km/h). Walruses can eat a massive 4,000 clams in one feeding session!