Walrus

1. The "Tooth Walker"

The scientific name Odobenus means "tooth walker" in Greek. Walruses use their tusks like ice axes, hooking them into ice floes and using them as leverage to haul their massive bodies (up to 2,000 kg) out of the water. Watching a walrus "walk" up an ice floe using only its tusks is one of nature's most impressive feats of engineering.

2. The 700 Whisker Mustache

Walruses have the most impressive facial hair in the animal kingdom—400 to 700 stiff, sensitive whiskers (vibrissae) arranged in dense rows around their mouths. These whiskers are so sensitive they can detect clams buried 30 cm deep in the seafloor. They work like underwater fingers, allowing walruses to "feel" their way through the dark, murky Arctic seafloor.

3. The Suction Feeding

Walruses don't crush shells with their teeth. Instead, they use powerful suction to extract clams, mussels, and other bivalves from their shells. They create a vacuum with their mouth and literally suck the meat out, leaving empty shells behind. They can consume 3,000–6,000 clams in a single feeding session.

4. The Deep Diver

While they typically forage at depths of 10–100 meters, walruses are capable of extraordinary deep dives. Some individuals have been recorded diving to depths exceeding 500 meters (1,640 feet). They can hold their breath for up to 30 minutes, though most dives last 2–5 minutes.

5. The Blushing Skin

Walruses have a unique ability to change color. In cold water, blood vessels constrict, making their skin appear pale or white. When they warm up (on land or in shallow water), blood vessels dilate, and their skin can turn pink or even bright red. This is a form of thermoregulation—they're literally blushing to cool down.

6. The Social Huddle

Walruses are highly social and form massive aggregations called "haul-outs" on ice or land. These can number in the thousands—imagine a sea of brown, tusked bodies piled on top of each other. They use vocalizations (barks, grunts, clicks, whistles) to communicate, creating a constant cacophony.

7. The Tusk Hierarchy

Tusks are status symbols. Longer, thicker tusks indicate dominance and age. Males use their tusks to establish social hierarchy, engaging in displays and sometimes combat. The tusks can also be used defensively against predators like polar bears. In some populations, tusks can grow up to 1 meter long.

8. The Ice Breaker

Walruses use their tusks to break through ice from below, creating breathing holes. They can maintain these holes in ice that's meters thick, using their tusks and powerful head movements to keep them open. This is crucial for survival in the frozen Arctic, where ice can be several meters thick.

9. The Arctic Specialist

Walruses are found only in the Arctic—they're the most northerly pinniped. There are two subspecies: Atlantic walrus (found in the North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean) and Pacific walrus (found in the Bering and Chukchi Seas). They're perfectly adapted to life on and under ice.

10. The Long Life

Walruses are long-lived, with a lifespan of up to 40 years in the wild. They reach sexual maturity slowly (males at 8–10 years, females at 5–7 years) and have a long gestation period (15–16 months). This slow reproductive rate, combined with threats from climate change and hunting, makes them vulnerable to population decline.