Walrus

O. rosmarus rosmarus

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O. rosmarus divergens

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Walruses are large semi-aquatic mammals that live in the cold Arctic seas of the Northern Hemisphere. Two subspecies exist: the Atlantic, Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus, and the Pacific, Odobenus rosmarus divergens. The Pacific walrus is slightly larger, the male weighing up to 4000 lb (1.8 t).

Related Topics:
Mammal - Arctic - Northern Hemisphere - Atlantic - Pacific

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The walrus is a member of order Carnivora and is the only species in the family Odobenidae. The compound odobenus comes from odous (Greek for "tooth") and baino (Greek for "walk"), based on observations of walruses using their tusks to pull themselves out of the water. Rosmarus originates in the Swedish word for walrus. Divergens in Latin means "turning apart", referring to the tusks.

Related Topics:
Carnivora - Odobenidae - Greek - Tusk - Swedish - Latin

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