ALL YOU EVER NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT Walruses

WALRUSES LIVE IN THE ARCTIC and sub-Arctic.

- JO PRICE

They are one of the largest pinnipeds (meaning fin-footed) and are related to seals and sealions. Their Latin name, Odobenus rosmarus, translates as 'tooth-walking seahorse' and refers to their most distinguishable feature - large tusks.

What do they eat?

These marine mammals feed in shallow, coastal areas and usually only embark on short dives. Foraging trips can last from a few hours to several days. They mostly prey on bivalve molluscs, which they search for in soft sediment, using their super-sensitive whiskers. Walruses also eat worms, snails, crabs, amphipods, shrimps, sea cucumbers, tunicates and slow-moving fish.

Where do they live?

These pinnipeds are extant in Canada, Greenland, Russia, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, and Alaska in the USA. The species is documented as 'presence uncertain and vagrant' in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the UK, and Maine and Massachusetts in the USA. There have been several sightings of the species appearing outside of its usual range in recent years, particularly in Europe.

What habitat do they need?