What the sources say
WalrusOdobenus rosmarus
Every figure, record and mechanism on the Walrus profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 60 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.
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Source
01
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Walrus. Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
- The page sayshundreds of sensitive whiskers
- The source says
Walruses also have hundreds of short, strong, highly sensitive whiskers that they use to search the seafloor for their food.
- The page saysBenthic clams, snails, sea cucumbers, soft-shelled crabs, and marine worms
- The source says
Invertebrates that live on and below the seafloor – clams, snails, soft-shelled crabs, shrimp, worms, sea cucumbers
Note: Benthic restates 'live on and below the seafloor'. SeaWorld's species-wide list agrees: clams, marine worms, snails, sea cucumbers, crabs - The page sayssome walruses, mostly males, are known to occasionally prey on seals and seabirds
- The source says
Some walruses, mostly males, are known to occasionally prey on seals and seabirds.
Note: final pass: the Fast Facts box drops the scope the body text gives - The page saysA Mouth Built Like a Vacuum
- The source says
walruses eat by sucking food into their mouths using the powerful suction created by pulling their piston-like tongue back quickly
Note: vacuum is the heading's metaphor for the suction the source describes - The page saysA walrus eats by suction.
- The source says
walruses eat by sucking food into their mouths using the powerful suction
- The page saysExcept for the tusks, its teeth are flat, so it pulls its piston-like tongue back quickly, and the powerful suction draws food into its mouth
- The source says
Except for their tusks, walrus teeth are flat; as a result, walruses eat by sucking food into their mouths using the powerful suction created by pulling their piston-like tongue back quickly.
- The page saysIt sucks the soft parts out of clams and snails and leaves the shells to fall to the seafloor
- The source says
Walruses suck out the soft parts of clams and snails leaving the shells to fall to the sea floor.
- The page saysthe group that includes seals and sea lions
- The source says
a large pinniped (i.e., the group that includes seals, sea lions and fur seals)
- The page saysThat bulk comes wrapped in a tough hide that can be an inch thick
- The source says
Walruses are strong bodied and have a very thick, tough hide that can be an inch thick.
- The page saysFemale walruses are known to become dangerously aggressive if their calf is threatened
- The source says
Female walruses are known to become dangerously aggressive if their calf is threatened.
Note: added after review so the page states what backs stats.dangerLevel High ('Dangerous when cornered or provoked') - The page saysA walrus's tusks are its upper canine teeth, and they grow throughout its life
- The source says
their two ivory tusks, which are long upper canine teeth that grow throughout their life
- The page saysFemales threaten and jab each other for better position on haulouts, and in the breeding season males threaten and fight with their tusks to compete for females
- The source says
Females will threaten and jab each other for better position on haulouts and during the breeding season, male walruses will threaten and fight with their tusks to compete for females.
- The page saysTwo males with similar-sized tusks will usually fight and may stab each other, leaving bruises and punctures
- The source says
If the two males have similar sized tusks, they will usually fight and may stab each other with their tusks, inflicting bruises and punctures.
- The page saysThe genus name Odobenus means "tooth-walker."
- The source says
The walrus’s genus name Odobenus means “tooth-walker.”
- The page saysPredators and Sea Ice
- The source says
Potential threats to the Pacific walrus population include a reduction in sea ice, predation by killer whales and polar bears
Note: the heading names the section's two topics and states no trend - The page saysAlaska's wildlife agency also lists a reduction in sea ice among the potential threats to the Pacific walrus
- The source says
Potential threats to the Pacific walrus population include a reduction in sea ice
- The page saysWalruses use sea ice as a drifting platform for resting between foraging trips, giving birth and traveling
- The source says
Walruses use sea ice as a stable, yet drifting, platform for resting between foraging trips, calving, and traveling.
- The page saysWith less of it, Pacific walruses will likely spend more time on shore haulouts along the Russian and Alaskan coasts
- The source says
With less sea ice, walruses will likely spend more time on shore haulouts along the Russian and Alaskan coasts
Note: the source is the Pacific walrus profile, and the Russian and Alaskan coasts are the Pacific population's - The page saysOn land haulouts, a disturbance can panic the herd into a rush for the water that runs over and crushes calves and yearlings
- The source says
Calves and yearlings suffer increased mortality on terrestrial haulouts when disturbances cause the herd to panic and rush to the water running over and crushing the smaller animals.
- The page saysExcept for its tusks, a walrus's teeth are flat, so it eats by suction
- The source says
Except for their tusks, walrus teeth are flat; as a result, walruses eat by sucking food into their mouths using the powerful suction
- The page saysIt pulls its piston-like tongue back quickly, and the powerful suction draws food into its mouth
- The source says
walruses eat by sucking food into their mouths using the powerful suction created by pulling their piston-like tongue back quickly
- The page saysWalruses do not use them to dig on the seafloor for food
- The source says
Walruses do not use their tusks for digging on the seafloor for food.
- The page saysThey use them to help pull themselves onto rocks or ice, to move ice to make an opening to dive through, and to fight off predators
- The source says
Walruses use their tusks to help pull themselves onto rocks or ice, to move ice to create an opening to dive through, and to fight off predators.
- The page saysTheir most common use is social
- The source says
The most common use of tusks is social.
- The page saysfemales threaten and jab each other for better position on haulouts, and in the breeding season males threaten and fight with their tusks to compete for females
- The source says
Females will threaten and jab each other for better position on haulouts and during the breeding season, male walruses will threaten and fight with their tusks to compete for females.
Source
02
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Animal Bytes
Walrus. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Animal Bytes.
- The page saysShallow Arctic seas
- The source says
Range Arctic Sea, both Pacific and Atlantic (Bering, Laptev and Chukchi seas) Habitat In relatively shallow water, generally not more than 80 m (262 ft) deep.
- The page sayshauling out on ice floes and pack ice, or small rocky islands when there is no ice
- The source says
Hauls out on ice floes, pack ice and small rocky islands when ice is not present.
- The page saysAbout 400 to 700 whiskers on a snout that a walrus moves through seafloor sediment to find food
- The source says
A walrus has about 400 to 700 vibrissae on its snout. Vibrissae are attached to muscles and are supplied with blood and nerves. A walrus moves its snout through bottom sediment to find food.
- The page saysA walrus may eat 3,000 to 6,000 clams in a single feeding
- The source says
may consume 3,000 to 6,000 clams within a single feeding
- The page saysTo locate food, a walrus uses its whiskers, called vibrissae
- The source says
To locate food, walruses use their vibrissae (whiskers).
- The page saysIt has about 400 to 700 of them on its snout, attached to muscles and supplied with blood and nerves
- The source says
A walrus has about 400 to 700 vibrissae on its snout. Vibrissae are attached to muscles and are supplied with blood and nerves.
- The page saysIt moves its snout through the bottom sediment to find food
- The source says
A walrus moves its snout through bottom sediment to find food.
- The page saysWalruses live in relatively shallow water, generally no more than 80 meters (262 feet) deep
- The source says
Habitat In relatively shallow water, generally not more than 80 m (262 ft) deep.
- The page saysin relatively shallow water that is generally no more than 80 meters (262 feet) deep
- The source says
Habitat In relatively shallow water, generally not more than 80 m (262 ft) deep.
- The page saysAdult males measure 2.7 to 3.6 meters (9 to 12 feet) long and weigh about 800 to 1,700 kilograms; females measure 2.3 to 3.1 meters (7.5 to 10 feet) and weigh about 400 to 1,250 kilograms
- The source says
Male: 2.7 to 3.6 m (9 to 12 ft) Female: 2.3 to 3.1 m (7.5 to 10 ft) Weight Newborn claves weigh about 45 to 75 kg (99 to 156 lbs.) Male: About 800 to 1,700 kg (1,764 to 3,748 lbs.) Female: About 400 to 1,250 kg (882 to 2,756 lbs.)
Note: species-wide figures from the current SeaWorld page; the ranges sit under 'Adult males are slightly larger than females' and apart from the newborn figures, so they are adults. Replaces the ADFG 'up to 12 feet, up to 2 tons' figure, which is the Pacific walrus's (ADFG's page is a Pacific walrus profile) - The page saysThe Pacific subspecies is larger than the Atlantic
- The source says
The Pacific subspecies is larger than the Atlantic.
- The page saysa blubber layer that may be up to 15 centimeters (6 inches) thick
- The source says
Blubber may be up to 15 cm (6 in.) thick.
- The page saysIn winter, blubber may make up a third of a walrus's body mass
- The source says
During the winter, blubber may account for one-third of a walrus's total body mass.
- The page saysMost walruses live where the air temperature is about minus 15 to 5°C (5 to 41°F), and the blubber insulates them
- The source says
Most walruses live where the air temperature is about -15° to 5°C (5° to 41°F). A thick layer of blubber insulates the walrus.
- The page saysWalruses may live up to 40 years
- The source says
Life Span Up to 40 years
- The page saysThe wear on them shows they are dragged through the sediment, not used to dig up prey
- The source says
Abrasion patterns of the tusks show that they are dragged through the sediment, but are not used to dig up prey.
- The page saysTo dig, a walrus may take in a mouthful of water and squirt powerful jets at the seafloor, excavating burrowing clams
- The source says
Walruses may also take in mouthfuls of water and squirt powerful jets at the sea floor, excavating burrowing invertebrates such as clams
- The page saysTheir main jobs seem to be helping a walrus haul out onto ice and rocky shores and establishing social dominance
- The source says
The primary functions of the walruses' prominent tusks seem to be aiding in hauling out on ice and rocky shores and in establishing social dominance.
Source
03
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan
Odobenus rosmarus (walrus). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.
- The page saysTusks up to three feet long
- The source says
Tusks can grow to a length of 90 cm
Note: 90 cm is about 3 feet; no current institution page gives a tusk length, so ADW (2013) stands uncontradicted - The page saysWalruses have short-range vision and often can't see when they are on the ocean floor looking for food
- The source says
Walruses has short-range vision and often cannot see when they are on the ocean floor scavenging for food.
- The page saysThey can reach 90 centimeters (about 3 feet), though roughly 50 centimeters is average
- The source says
Tusks can grow to a length of 90 cm but the average size is roughly 50 cm.
Note: 90 cm is about 3 feet - The page saysWalrus predators include polar bears and killer whales
- The source says
Walruses predators include killer whales and polar bears.
- The page saysAdults use their tusks as a weapon to defend themselves, and young walruses are more vulnerable to predation
- The source says
Adults use their giant tusks as a weapon to defend themselves. The young walruses are more susceptible to predation.
Source
04
McClain et al. 2015
McClain et al. (2015). Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine megafauna. PeerJ.
- The page saysthe bulk of the third-largest pinniped
- The source says
Third Largest Pinniped: Walrus, Odobenus rosmarus
- The page saysAn Arctic Heavyweight
- The source says
Third Largest Pinniped: Walrus, Odobenus rosmarus (Linnaeus, 1758) Odobenus rosmarus has a disjunct distribution occurring across the Arctic Ocean and sub-Arctic portions of the North Pacific and North Atlantic.
Note: heavyweight rests on the third-largest-pinniped ranking; Arctic on the distribution - The page saysThe walrus is the third-largest pinniped
- The source says
Third Largest Pinniped: Walrus, Odobenus rosmarus
- The page saysLargest confirmed walrus
- The source says
The largest walrus we can confirm is an O. r. rosumarus male from southeastern Svalbard
- The page saysAn Atlantic walrus male from southeastern Svalbard, Norway, weighed 1,883 kilograms and measured 3.8 meters long
- The source says
The largest walrus we can confirm is an O. r. rosumarus male from southeastern Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, that measured 1,883 kg and was 3.8 m long (Wiig & Gjertz, 1996).
Note: the same paper names O. r. rosmarus as the Atlantic walrus ('There are three recognized subspecies: the Atlantic Walrus O. r. rosmarus'); rosumarus is the paper's typo - The page saysA walrus killed in 1909 was estimated from its hide at 2,500 kilograms, and a bull shot in 1911 at a purported 2,268 kilograms, but both records are difficult to verify
- The source says
the largest recorded specimen is predicted to be 2,500 kg based on a hide weight 500 kg and the assumption that the hide compromises roughly 20% of total weight (Wood, 1982). Captain Ole Hansen killed this individual in 1909 near Franz-Josef Land. In 1911, the American Jack Woodson shot a bull with a purported weight of 2,268 kg (Wood, 1982). Both of these records are difficult to verify.
- The page saysThe largest walrus researchers can confirm is an Atlantic walrus male from southeastern Svalbard, Norway, which weighed 1,883 kilograms (over 4,000 pounds) and measured 3.8 meters (about 12.5 feet) long
- The source says
The largest walrus we can confirm is an O. r. rosumarus male from southeastern Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, that measured 1,883 kg and was 3.8 m long (Wiig & Gjertz, 1996).
Note: 1,883 kg is 4,151 lb; 3.8 m is 12.5 ft. The paper names O. r. rosmarus as the Atlantic walrus - The page saysThe scientists who reported it thought that figure might be conservative, and that the largest males at Svalbard might weigh about 2,000 kilograms (about 4,400 pounds).
- The source says
Wiig & Gjertz (1996) did note, however, that this size estimate may be conservative ... it is believed that the largest male walruses at Svalbard might weigh about 2,000 kg.
Note: FAQ 4; 2,000 kg is 4,409 lb. Wiig & Gjertz 1996 reported the 1,883 kg Svalbard male the sentence before
Source
05
Larsen & Reichmuth 2021
Larsen & Reichmuth (2021). Walruses produce intense impulse sounds by clap-induced cavitation during breeding displays. Royal Society Open Science.
- The page saysA rutting male walrus sings underwater in the same two parts: rhythmic knocks
- The source says
During the breeding season adult males emit patterned underwater songs that include rhythmic knock sequences punctuated by metallic bell-like sounds.
Note: vibe.reason; the two parts map onto the song's frame drums (knocks) and horns (bell-like sounds) - The page saysabout one a second
- The source says
often repeated in rhythmic sequences at rates of 0.8–1.2 Hz
Note: vibe.reason; 0.8 to 1.2 Hz is roughly one knock a second - The page sayspunctuated by metallic bell-like sounds, in cycles that can run for hours
- The source says
During the breeding season adult males emit patterned underwater songs that include rhythmic knock sequences punctuated by metallic bell-like sounds. These unusual songs consist of hundreds of short repetitious pulses delivered in repeated stereotyped cycles lasting from several hours to several days at a time
Note: vibe.reason
Source
06
Kovacs 2025
Kovacs (2025). Odobenus rosmarus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T15106A272356023.
- The page saysThe IUCN lists the walrus as Vulnerable
- The source says
IUCN Red List category: Vulnerable (VU).
How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.