What are the whiskers on a walrus called?
As their favorite meals, particularly shellfish, are found near the dark ocean floor, walruses use their extremely sensitive whiskers, called mustacial vibrissae, as detection devices.
What are walrus whiskers for?
They dive underwater and use their whiskers to detect the shellfish in the dark waters of the ocean. According to the Smithsonian Institution’s Arctic Study Center, a walrus can eat up to 4,000 clams in one feeding. When food is hard to come by, walruses will also eat the carcasses of dead seals.
How many whiskers does a walrus have?
A walrus has about 400 to 700 vibrissae (whiskers) in 13 to 15 rows on its snout. Vibrissae are attached to muscles and are supplied with blood and nerves. Most walruses have 18 teeth. The two canine teeth in the upper jaw are modified into long ivory tusks.
How do the whiskers of a walrus help it to survive?
Their whiskers are very sensitive and help the walruses find their favorite meals, such as clams, way down in the deep, dark ocean floor. Their whiskers are longest at the corners of their mouth. Only Native Americans are currently allowed to hunt walruses, as the species’ survival was threatened by past overhunting.
How thick is a walrus whisker?
It may reach a thickness of 2 to 4 cm (0.79-1.6 in.). It is thickest on the neck and shoulders of adult males, where it protects the animal against jabs by the tusks of other walruses. 2. The skin of males often has large nodules; these are absent in females.
What are walrus whiskers made of?
They Find Food With Their Vibrissae Though often mistaken for a mustache, the whiskers on a walrus are not hair, but incredibly sensitive vibrissae. Walruses have between 400 and 700 of these tactile organs lined up in 13 to 15 rows around the nose.
How heavy is a walrus?
2,200 lbsAdult
Walrus/Mass
What is bigger an elephant seal or a walrus?
Among the most amazing of pinnipeds are the elephant seals. They are the biggest of pinnipeds – bigger even than walruses – there being a record of a giant male Southern elephant seal that was between 6.5 and 6.8 m long and weighed over 4000 kg (Carwardine 1995).
Is a walrus bigger than a hippo?
Aside from being the a rare dinner menu items for a polar bear, belugas and adult walruses have something else in common; they are smaller than hippos. Walruses typically weigh 1800–3700 pounds. Beluga whales weigh 1540 to 3530 pounds.
Is a walrus bigger than an elephant seal?
Elephant seals are bigger than even the largest male walrus. A male Pacific walrus weighs around 1,700 pounds while a male Atlantic walrus weighs around 2,000 pounds. While male elephant seals are often at least double that.
How many tusks does a walrus have?
The tusks are considered to be teeth. They also have about 18 of them in their mouths. Tusks of walrus. They can grow to be extremely large animals. Some males weigh close to 4,400 pounds.
How much does a walrus weigh?
Tusks of walrus. They can grow to be extremely large animals. Some males weigh close to 4,400 pounds. Females often weigh up to 3,000 pounds. It is really hard to get an accurate weight on these animals due to the volume of them.
What do walruses use their whiskers for?
As their favorite meals, particularly shellfish, are found near the dark ocean floor, walruses use their extremely sensitive whiskers, called mustacial vibrissae, as detection devices.
How many different types of walruses are there?
There are mainly three subspecies of walrus, namely, Atlantic, Pacific, and Laptev. The taxonomy of walruses according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) is: Male Pacific Walruses: Weight is 800-1700 kg. 2.7-3.6m length. Female Pacific Walruses: Weight is 400-1250 kg. 2.3-3.1m length.