Walrus

Identification

The walrus is unmistakable among Arctic marine mammals. Adults are characterised by prominent tusks and distinctive whiskers, combined with considerable bulk that makes them among the largest pinnipeds in the world. Adult males in the Pacific can weigh more than 2,000 kilograms, exceeded in size only by the two species of elephant seals. The walrus is the only extant species in the family Odobenidae, making it a truly unique marine mammal with no close living relatives.

Range & Habitat

Walruses have a discontinuous distribution about the North Pole, inhabiting the Arctic Ocean and subarctic seas of the Northern Hemisphere. Two subspecies are recognised: the Atlantic walrus, which lives in the Atlantic Ocean, and the Pacific walrus, which inhabits the Pacific Ocean. These populations remain largely separate, with fixed genetic differences indicating very restricted gene flow between them.

Walruses live mostly in shallow waters above continental shelves, where they spend significant amounts of their lives on sea ice. Historically, walruses ranged more widely—fossil evidence and archaeological remains indicate they once lived as far south as the southern North Sea and the Atlantic coast of North America. Today, populations of Atlantic and Laptev walruses remain fragmented and at low levels compared with pre-industrial times.

Behaviour & Diet

Walruses are relatively long-lived, social and intelligent animals. They spend considerable time hauled out on sea ice, where they forage in the benthic environment below. Their diet consists primarily of benthic bivalve molluscs, which they locate and extract from the seafloor in the shallow continental shelf waters where they prefer to live. Their remarkable tusks serve a practical purpose: the scientific name Odobenus derives from Greek words meaning 'teeth' and 'walk', referring to walruses' observed behaviour of using their tusks to pull themselves out of the water.

Walruses are considered a keystone species of the Arctic marine region, playing an important ecological role in their environment. The species has held profound cultural significance for indigenous Arctic peoples across millennia, who have traditionally hunted walruses for meat, fat, skin, tusks, and bone.

Best Time & Places to See It

Walruses are found throughout the Arctic, though specific locations depend on which subspecies you wish to encounter. The Atlantic walrus inhabits waters around Greenland, the Canadian Arctic, and northeastern North America, while the Pacific walrus is found in the Bering Sea and other Pacific Arctic waters. Your best opportunities lie in expedition-style Arctic travel, typically during summer months when sea ice recedes and access to walrus haul-out sites becomes feasible. Local guides in Arctic communities are essential for responsible and successful walrus encounters.

Photography Tips

Photographing walruses requires patience, respect for distance, and appropriate Arctic travel logistics. These are large, powerful animals that should be observed from a safe distance. Use a telephoto lens to capture close-up details of their distinctive tusks and whiskers without disturbing the animals. The Arctic's extended daylight during summer months provides excellent lighting conditions. Remember that walruses are often found in groups hauled out on ice floes, which can provide dramatic compositional opportunities when photographed with the Arctic landscape.