W-Walrus

**__W__alrus**'s

__APPEARANCE:__ The adult male walrus is huge and weighs from 900 kg to 1400 kg. (2000 to 3000 lbs.) Males are longer and heavier than the females. Males can be 3 metres in length while females are 2.6 metres in length. Their brownish skin is very thick and wrinkled. They have flat front and hind flippers. The walrus looks bald but its body is covered with short brown hairs. They have long sharp tusks (which are enlarged upper canine teeth), whiskers, small eyes and no external ears.

http://driftline.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/carwardine_walrus_470x350.jpghttp://polarfieldservice.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/walrus.jpg

__ADAPTATION:__ -The walrus cannot move well on land but it is a very good swimmer. It can dive to the ocean floor. -Under its thick skin, the walrus has a layer of blubber (body fat). This provides the walrus with insulation in the freezing water and also protects it from the cold wind as it lies out on the ice. -The bottoms of the flippers are bumpy so the walrus can grip the ice. -Its tusks help the walrus to climb out of the water and pulls its heavy body onto the ice. The tusks are used to break breathing holes in the ice. The walrus also uses its head to break through the ice. __FOOD:__ The walrus feeds on clams, mussels, krill, crabs, worms and snails. It will also eat octopus and fish. A walrus may also attack a seal. Whiskers help the walrus feel for food on the ocean floor.

__PROTECTION__: On land the walruses lie close together in herds. Large herds may have over a thousand animals. They are very loud noisy animals and make a bellowing sound. When a walrus is attacked, the others come to help it. __ENEMIES __ Their only enemies are the killer whale ( orca ) and polar bear. These animals have teeth that are strong enough to chew through the tough skin of the walrus. Man is also an enemy. media type="youtube" key="Uq1xWuBIXDg" height="385" width="480" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq1xWuBIXDg

Link to whale  By: NaDa Roby