1 minute read

Walrus: Odobenidae

Physical Characteristics, Geographic Range, Diet, Behavior And Reproduction, Walruses And PeopleHABITAT, CONSERVATION STATUS



Walruses live mainly in the sea, occupying pack ice, large pieces of ice frozen together, that floats on the continental shelf, the shallow part of the ocean floor that starts at the shoreline. Males haul out on sandy, cobble, or boulder beaches.



Though not considered Threatened, the walrus is protected by the governments of the countries in which it lives. Only native people are allowed to hunt walruses legally. (Dotte Larson/Bruce Coleman Inc. Reproduced by permission.)

Walruses are not a threatened species.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Books:

Bonner, Nigel. "The Walrus." In Seals and Sea Lions of the World. New York: Facts on File, Inc., 1994.

Knudtson, Peter. The World of the Walrus. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 1998.

Nowak, Ronald M. "Walrus." Walker's Mammals of the World Online 5.1. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1997. http://www.press.jhu.edu/books/walkers_mammals_of_the_world/pinnipedia/pinnipedia.odobenidae.odobenus.html (accessed on July 7, 2004).

Patent, Dorothy Hinshaw. Seals, Sea Lions and Walruses. New York: Holiday House, 1990.

Reeves, Randall R., Brent S. Stewart, Phillip J. Clapham, and James A. Powell. Guide to Marine Mammals of the World. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2002.

Periodicals:

Fay, Francis H. "Odobenus rosmarus." Mammalian Species 238 (May 24, 1985): 1–7.

Lanken, Dane. "Grace Under Water." Canadian Geographic (March 2002): 48–53.

Rosing, Norbert. "Walrus: Giant of the Arctic Ice." National Geographic (September 2001): 62–78.

Schleichert, Elizabeth. "Giants of the North." Ranger Rick (November 1997): 4–11.

Web sites:

Alaska Science Center-Biological Science Office. "Pacific Walrus Research." U.S. Geological Survey. http://www.absc.usgs.gov/research/walrus/home.html (accessed on July 7, 2004).

Sea World Education Department. "Walrus." Sea World/Busch Gardens Animal Information Database. http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/Walrus/home.html (accessed on July 7, 2004).

Vlessides, Michael. "In Search of the Tooth Walker." National Wildlife Federation. http://www.nwf.org/internationalwildlife/2000/walrusnd.html (accessed on July 7, 2004).

Additional topics

Animal Life ResourceMammals