Andrew Trites, NOAA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Captain Budd Christman, NOAA Corps, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The thick, wrinkled skin acts as a protective barrier for the walrus when it fights with other walruses and when it is attacked by predators. The walrus also has a thick layer of blubber under its skin that protects it from the freezing water. When the temperature drops, the walrus’ blood vessels get smaller, helping it maintain its body heat.
CLASS: Mammalia (mammals)
ORDER: Carnivora (meat-eating)
SUBORDER: Pinnipedia (fin-footed)
FAMILY: Odobenidae (walruses)
GENUS/SPECIES: Odobenus rosmarus
Size: 8–12 ft (2.4–3.7 m); males larger than females.
Weight: From 1 to over 2 tons (900–1,800 kg)
Diet: Snails, crabs, shrimp, worms, and clams
Habitat: Open waters of the Arctic Ocean near the edge of the polar ice in Northeast Siberia, Northwest Alaska, Greenland, and Ellesmere Island.
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