Animal Fun Facts: Meet the Pacific Walrus

Gianna Ursone, Chief Copy Editor • October 5, 2026

Another year, another new and fun animal to learn about! Today’s animal is the Pacific Walrus, scientifically known as Odobenus divergens! Let’s slide on into some fun facts about these chunky guys!

 

• Pacific Walruses are known to weigh up to 4,000 tons! Because of their huge size, they have thick insulation that grows to 6 inches thick, which accounts for about 1/3 of their total body weight.
• Pacific Walrus’ canine tusks do not stop growing. Like goats’ horns, pacific walrus’ tusks continuously grow and are their main way of fighting!
• These guys have about 400 to 700 highly sensitive whiskers on their faces that are called vibrissae. This allows them to find clams deep in the freezing ocean!
• Male pacific walruses are known to sing a complex underwater song that contains knocking, whistling and bells that can last for about a couple of hours and maybe even a few days!
• During the days of December to March, male walruses (also called bulls) compete for a harem of females (or cows). They use their tusks to brutally take down their opponents and lift themselves up as high as possible to intimidate younger or smaller males who challenge them!

 

That’s all that’s left for these powerful creatures! Hopefully, you’ve learned something new about these strange yet strong animals.

Photos courtesy Gianna Ursone