What are Vibrissae in walruses?
A walrus’s head is square and broad with conspicuous tusks and whiskers. 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. The tusks of males tend to be longer, straighter, and stouter than those of females.
What are walrus tusks used for?
Both male and female walruses have large tusks They use these tusks to help them haul themselves out of the water and onto sea ice. Their tusks are also used for fighting with other walruses, and defence against predators.
What is a female walrus called?
Both the male (called a bull) and the female (called a cow) have tusks; however, those of the male are much larger. Males may weigh over a ton and reach a length of more than 10 feet.
What is the scientific name for a walrus?
Odobenus rosmarus
Walrus/Scientific names
How do walruses use their vibrissae?
The whiskers, also known as vibrissae, are attached to muscles and are supplied with blood and nerves, which makes them highly sensitive. Walruses use these sensitive whiskers to locate prey. They hunt with their noses to the sea floor, squirting water out of their nostrils to stir up burrowing prey.
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.
What classification is a walrus?
Mammal
Walrus/Class
The walrus is a mammal in the order Carnivora. It is the sole surviving member of the family Odobenidae, one of three lineages in the suborder Pinnipedia along with true seals (Phocidae) and eared seals (Otariidae).
What are walrus tusks made of?
Walrus tusks are primarily composed of Dentin, a hard calcareous material composed of Calcium hydroxyapatite with small amounts of Calcium carbonate, Calcium fluoride, and Magnesium phosphate. They are solid, without any noticeable grain.
Are walruses endangered?
Data deficient (Data inadequate to determine a threat category)
Walrus/Conservation status
What is a walrus classified as?
The walrus is a mammal in the order Carnivora. It is the sole surviving member of the family Odobenidae, one of three lineages in the suborder Pinnipedia along with true seals (Phocidae) and eared seals (Otariidae).