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Undo revision 348454 by Special:Contributions/JesusGoesToOrpington (User talk:JesusGoesToOrpington)
[[Image:Walrus1.JPG|right|Walruses.]]
The '''Walrus''' ''Odobenus rosmarus'' is a large species of [[Arctic]] [[pinniped]], readily distinguished from all other marine mammals by the possession of a pair of substantial tusks, used for hauling them onto ice floes. Walruses have no external ears, and are heavily whiskered, which aids them in detecting their main food, [[mollusc]]s living on the sea floor. Sometimes rogue walruses, generally large adult males, will attack and consume smaller [[seal]]s and toothed [[whale]]s.
Three populations, sometimes considered as subspecies, are recognized; in the north [[Atlantic Ocean]], the north [[Pacific Ocean]], and the [[Laptev Sea]].
Walruses have been traditionally hunted by Arctic people for their meat, hide and [[ivory]] for thousands of years. In recent times, hunting for ivory has severely impacted walrus populations. Although now protected, some [[poaching]] continues. The only other animal that preys upon adult walrus is the [[orca|killer whale]], though [[polar bear]]s will sometimes attack calves.
Though generally confined to shallow coastal areas with ice floes, walruses occasionally wander further afield, with individuals recorded from as far south as [[Scotland]] and [[Ireland]].
== Trivia ==
One of the protagonists of [[Lewis Carroll]]'s poem, ''The walrus and the carpenter'', is a walrus and is accurately depicted feeding upon molluscs.
It features in the song by [[The Beatles]], ''I am the walrus''.
== External links ==
*[http://www.fao.org/fi/website/FIRetrieveAction.do?dom=species&fid=3580 Walrus factsheet.]
*[http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Odobenus_rosmarus.html Walrus]
[[Category:Marine mammals]]