{"elementGlobalId":102198,"circumscripConfidence":{"id":1,"circumscripConfidenceDescEn":"1 - Strong","circumscripConfidenceDescEs":"1 - Fuerte","circumscripConfidenceDescFr":"1 – Forte"},"classificationLevel":{"id":7,"classificationLevelNameEn":"Species","classificationLevelNameEs":"Especies","classificationLevelNameFr":"Espèce"},"classificationStatus":{"id":1,"classificationStatusDescEn":"Standard","classificationStatusDescEs":"Estándar","classificationStatusDescFr":"Standard"},"iucn":{"id":5,"iucnDescEn":"Vulnerable","iucnDescEs":"Vulnerable","iucnDescFr":"Vulnérable","iucnCode":"VU"},"nameCategory":{"id":1,"nameCategoryDescEn":"Vertebrate Animal","nameCategoryDescEs":"Animal vertebrado","nameCategoryDescFr":"Animal vertébré","nameTypeCd":"A","nameTypeDesc":"Zoological"},"rankMethodUsed":{"id":4,"rankMethodUsedDescEn":"Expertise without calculation","rankMethodUsedDescEs":null,"rankMethodUsedDescFr":null,"rankMethodUsedExternalDescEn":"Ranked by inspection","rankMethodUsedExternalDescEs":null,"rankMethodUsedExternalDescFr":null},"formattedScientificName":"<i>Odobenus rosmarus</i>","scientificName":"Odobenus rosmarus","scientificNameAuthor":"(Linnaeus, 1758)","primaryCommonName":"Walrus","relatedItisNames":"<i>Odobenus rosmarus</i> (Linnaeus, 1758) (TSN 180639)","uniqueId":"ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.102198","elcode":"AMAJD01010","conceptRefFullCitation":"Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.","conceptName":"<i>Odobenus rosmarus</i>","taxonomicComments":"The two geographically isolated subspecies (<i>O. r. divergens</i> in Pacific, <i>O. r. rosmarus</i> in Atlantic) exhibit distinct differences in mtDNA haplotypes and have slight differences in cranial morphology and tusk characteristics; walruses from different sampling locations exhibit mtDNA differences that may be useful in stock identification (Cronin et al. 1994).<br/><br/>Walruses occurring along the north coast of Asia, particularly in the Laptev Sea, are thought to have little contact with the other forms, and some Russian investigators recognize them as a third subspecies, <i>O. r. laptevi</i> (Reeves et al. 1992).<br/><br/>The Odobenidae has been regarded as a subfamily of the Otariidae by some authors; other authors contend that this would make the Otariidae paraphyletic (see Wozencraft, in Wilson and Reeder 1993). Odobenidae also has been regarded as a subfamily of Phocidae. Jones et al. (1992), Rice (1998), and Wozencraft (in Wilson and Reeder 1993, 2005) recognized the Odobenidae as a distinct family.","roundedGRank":"G4","conservationStatusFactorsEditionDate":"2008-01-15","conservationStatusFactorsEditionAuthors":"Gotthardt, T. A., and G. Hammerson. Reviwed by D. Tessler, Alaska Department of Fish and Game.","primaryCommonNameLanguage":"EN","recordType":"SPECIES","elementNationals":[{"elementNationalId":163027,"classifConfidence":null,"nation":{"id":225,"nameEn":"United States","nameEs":"Estados Unidos","nameFr":"États-Unis","isoCode":"US","region":"United States"},"roundedNRank":"N4","elementSubnationals":[{"elementSubnationalId":357681,"subnation":{"id":1,"nameEn":"Alaska","nameEs":"Alaska","nameFr":"Alaska","subnationCode":"AK","dnationId":225},"roundedSRank":"S3","dataSensitive":{"id":2,"dataSensitiveDescEn":"No","dataSensitiveDescEs":null,"dataSensitiveDescFr":null,"dataSensitiveCode":"N"},"dataSensitiveCategory":null,"srank":"S3","speciesSubnational":{"elementSubnationalId":357681,"hybrid":false,"exotic":false,"native":true}}],"nrankReviewYear":1996,"nrank":"N4","speciesNational":{"elementNationalId":163027,"exotic":false,"native":true}},{"elementNationalId":167862,"classifConfidence":null,"nation":{"id":38,"nameEn":"Canada","nameEs":"Canadá","nameFr":"Canada","isoCode":"CA","region":"Canada"},"roundedNRank":"N3","elementSubnationals":[{"elementSubnationalId":315182,"subnation":{"id":227,"nameEn":"Nunavut","nameEs":"Nunavut","nameFr":"Nunavut","subnationCode":"NU","dnationId":38},"roundedSRank":"S3","dataSensitive":{"id":2,"dataSensitiveDescEn":"No","dataSensitiveDescEs":null,"dataSensitiveDescFr":null,"dataSensitiveCode":"N"},"dataSensitiveCategory":null,"srank":"S3","speciesSubnational":{"elementSubnationalId":315182,"hybrid":false,"exotic":false,"native":true}},{"elementSubnationalId":755164,"subnation":{"id":63,"nameEn":"New Brunswick","nameEs":"New Brunswick","nameFr":"Nouveau-Brunswick","subnationCode":"NB","dnationId":38},"roundedSRank":"SX","dataSensitive":{"id":2,"dataSensitiveDescEn":"No","dataSensitiveDescEs":null,"dataSensitiveDescFr":null,"dataSensitiveCode":"N"},"dataSensitiveCategory":null,"srank":"SX","speciesSubnational":{"elementSubnationalId":755164,"hybrid":false,"exotic":false,"native":true}},{"elementSubnationalId":388354,"subnation":{"id":69,"nameEn":"Quebec","nameEs":"Quebec","nameFr":"Québec","subnationCode":"QC","dnationId":38},"roundedSRank":"SNA","dataSensitive":{"id":2,"dataSensitiveDescEn":"No","dataSensitiveDescEs":null,"dataSensitiveDescFr":null,"dataSensitiveCode":"N"},"dataSensitiveCategory":null,"srank":"SNA","speciesSubnational":{"elementSubnationalId":388354,"hybrid":false,"exotic":false,"native":true}},{"elementSubnationalId":356039,"subnation":{"id":91,"nameEn":"Labrador","nameEs":"Labrador","nameFr":"Labrador","subnationCode":"LB","dnationId":38},"roundedSRank":"SX","dataSensitive":{"id":2,"dataSensitiveDescEn":"No","dataSensitiveDescEs":null,"dataSensitiveDescFr":null,"dataSensitiveCode":"N"},"dataSensitiveCategory":null,"srank":"SX","speciesSubnational":{"elementSubnationalId":356039,"hybrid":false,"exotic":false,"native":true}},{"elementSubnationalId":394774,"subnation":{"id":68,"nameEn":"Prince Edward Island","nameEs":"Isla del Príncipe Eduardo","nameFr":"Île-du-Prince-Édouard","subnationCode":"PE","dnationId":38},"roundedSRank":"SX","dataSensitive":{"id":2,"dataSensitiveDescEn":"No","dataSensitiveDescEs":null,"dataSensitiveDescFr":null,"dataSensitiveCode":"N"},"dataSensitiveCategory":null,"srank":"SX","speciesSubnational":{"elementSubnationalId":394774,"hybrid":false,"exotic":false,"native":true}}],"nrankReviewYear":2024,"nrank":"N3","speciesNational":{"elementNationalId":167862,"exotic":false,"native":true}}],"lastModified":"2026-10-02T21:38:31.185812Z","lastPublished":"2026-10-02T21:32:08.892226Z","promotionalDescription":null,"conceptLineageSummary":null,"nsxUrl":"/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.102198/Odobenus_rosmarus","grankAdjustmentReasons":null,"grankChangeDate":"1996-11-18","grankReviewDate":"2016-04-04","grankReasons":null,"grank":"G4","rankInfo":{"elementGlobalId":102198,"aooPercentGood":null,"enviromentalSpecificity":null,"intrinsicVulnerability":null,"longTermTrend":null,"numberEos":null,"numberGoodEos":null,"numberProtEos":null,"popSize":null,"rangeExtent":null,"shortTermTrend":null,"threatImpactAssigned":null,"rangeExtentComments":"Genus <i>Odobenus </i>has a discontinuous distribution throughout arctic waters of the Northern Hemisphere. Atlantic walruses range from Foxe Basin, Hudson Bay, James Bay, and Labrador in the eastern Canadian Arctic to Greenland and east to Kara Sea and Franz Josef Land. Pacific walruses are found in the Beaufort, Chukchi, and Bering Seas. A population found in the Laptev Sea in the central Russian Arctic, generally considered to be Pacific walrus, is thought by some Russian researchers to be a separate subspecies entirely: <i>O. r. laptevi</i>.<br><br>In winter, Pacific walruses occur in the Bering Sea, mainly between eastern Bristol Bay and an area southwest of St. Lawrence Island, and in the Gulf of Anadyr. In summer, most  females and young occur in the Chukchi Sea (Point Barrow west to the mouth of the Kolyma River on the East Siberian Sea) and around the Diomede Islands, King Island, and Arakamchechen Island. When summer ice is light, large numbers haul out on shores of Wrangel and Herald islands and at traditional sites along the northern Chukchi Peninsula; in years of heavy summer ice, they generally remain associated with sea ice and do not come ashore in large numbers. During the southward fall migration, large groups haul out at Big Diomede Island and the Punuk Islands and at some coastal sites on the Siberian mainland. In summer, most males are found in the Bering Sea; many (at least 12,000) males summer on or near Round Island, in northern Bristol Bay, and another several thousand summer in the Gulf of Anadyr and in the Bering Strait (Reeves et al. 1992). <br><br>Historical Atlantic range included the Kara, Barents, and White seas and the shores of Novaya Zemlya, Franz Josef Land, Svalbard, and Bear Island; populations are still widespread but now are much smaller. Some still migrate through Karskye Vorota Strait between winter range in southeastern Barents Sea and summer range in the Kara Sea. Formerly occurred in large numbers south to Sable Island (off Nova Scotia) and the Magdalen Islands (Gulf of St. Lawrence) but extirpated south of Labrador by early 1900s. Centers of abundance are Hudson Strait, northern Hudson Bay, northern Foxe Basin, and along portions of the coasts of Greenland, Devon Island, Ellesmere Island, and Baffin Island; relatively large numbers occur in Smith Sound, Jones Sound, and their adjacent channels and embayments. From fall to late spring, a few hundred are present off central west Greenland in the Davis Strait pack ice; some winter in high arctic polynyas such as the North Water, Hell-Gate-Cardigan Strait, and Penny Strait-Queen's Channel, but there is also a northward migration in Davis Strait and Baffin Bay and a westward migration through Lancaster Sound during spring breakup (Reeves et al. 1992).<br><br>Laptev walruses occur mainly in the Laptev Sea, the eastern Kara Sea, and the western East Siberian Sea (Reeves et al. 1992).","areaOfOccupancy":null,"areaOfOccupancyComments":null,"numberEosComments":null,"popSizeComments":"A 1990 US - Soviet survey yielded a population estimate of about 200,000, at or near historic levels. However, this population estimate is not considered accurate due to problems in survey methodology (USFWS 2002 stock assessment). Laptev population numbers around 4000-5000 (Reeves et al. 1992).","viabilityComments":null,"threatImpactComments":"The currently declining levels of harvest by humans (USFWS 1995 stock assessment) do not appear to constitute a significant threat. Laptev population is threatened by pollution and industrial activity (Reeves et al. 1992).","shortTermTrendComments":"Pacific population apparently doubled between about 1960 and 1980, reaching a maximum of more than 200,000; by 1978 its reproductive output was declining as the population reached environmental carrying capacity. Annual kill in Alaska and former USSR at least doubled in the 1980s, and Pacific population was believed to be declining as of the early 1990s (Reeves et al. 1992). Pacific population may be stable or declining slightly (USFWS 1995 stock assessment). See also Fay et al. (1997) for evidence of a possible recent decline.<br><br>Atlantic populations have not made a similar recovery; early 1990s population in northeastern Atlantic may have been only 1500-2000; several thousand remain in the eastern Canadian arctic; population in Greenland's Thule district may be stable, but that off central west Greenland remains depleted (Reeves et al. 1992). Canadian populations apparently are stable (Richard and Campbell 1988). Formerly abundant in Gulf of St. Lawrence, then extirpated by exploitation; see Kingsley (1998) for recent sightings in the Gulf and lower estuary of the St. Lawrence.","longTermTrendComments":null,"inventoryNeeds":null,"numberProtEosComments":"This species is protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (1972) in the United States. Commercial walrus harvest was banned in 1941 in the United States (Fay 1957). Walruses are also legally protected in Canada and Russia. Canada began regulating its commercial walrus harvest as early as 1867, and this was legally halted altogether in 1931. Commercial harvest in the former Soviet Union was halted in 1957 (Krylov 1968). <i>Odobenus rosmarus</i> is included in Appendix III of the Convention on International and Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES).<br><br>Alaskan Natives still hunt Pacific walruses legally for subsistence use, with no limit to the number of animals taken. Arctic Natives in Canada have the right to hunt both Pacific and Atlantic walruses without permits for subsistence use, but each community has an established annual quota. In Russia there is also a regulated native subsistence harvest of both Atlantic and Pacific walrus. Native subsistence hunting of Atlantic walrus is regulated in Greenland. Atlantic walruses are fully protected from hunting in Svalbard and Franz-Joseph land (Born et al. 2001, USGS 2001).","protectionNeeds":null,"otherConsiderations":null,"intrinsicVulnerabilityComments":null,"enviromentalSpecificityComments":null},"animalCharacteristics":{"elementGlobalId":102198,"majorHabitat":{"id":1,"majorHabitatDescEn":"Marine","majorHabitatDescEs":"Marino","majorHabitatDescFr":"Marine"},"nonMigrant":false,"localMigrant":false,"longDistanceMigrant":true,"mobilityMigrationComments":"Beginning in April, females and young migrate northward from breeding areas in the Bering Sea into the Chukchi Sea following the retreating sea ice.  Some individuals probably migrate more than 3000 km in a year, some or much of which may be done on floating cakes of ice (Reeves et al. 1992). Some sub-adult males make the northward migration along with the females.  Along the Alaskan coast, small numbers of adult males apparently also make the migration following several weeks behind the majority of females.  Mixed herds of males and females haul out at select locations along the Chukotka Peninsula and Wrangell Island, Russia in the summer months.  Return migration commences in late September as sea ice advances southward.  The majority of males stay in the Bering Sea throughout the summer making use of haulouts in Bristol Bay, Alaska, and along the Koryak coast in Russia (Fay 1985); similar seasonal movement may occur in North Atlantic.","foodHabitsComments":"Feeds primarily on bivalve mollusks; principally clams. Also consumes many other benthic invertebrates. Generally eats fleshy portion of bivalve; rejects the shell. Some individuals may feed on fishes, birds, or other marine mammals. Feeds most commonly on bottom in shallow water (80 m or less) but apparently also can forage in deep water (200-500+ m) (Fay et al. 1984a, Reeves et al. 1992).","animalPhenologyComments":"Most active when feeding during early morning; rests the remainder of the day (Banfield 1974).","colonialBreeder":true,"length":360,"width":null,"weight":1265000,"animalPhenologies":[{"animalCagPhenologyId":101744,"animalPhenology":{"id":3,"animalPhenologyDescEn":"Diurnal","animalPhenologyDescEs":"Diurno","animalPhenologyDescFr":"Diurne","displayOrder":3},"adult":true,"immature":true}],"animalFoodHabits":[{"animalCagFoodHabitsId":103253,"foodHabits":{"id":3,"foodHabitsDescEn":"Invertivore","foodHabitsDescEs":"Invertívoro","foodHabitsDescFr":"Invertivore","displayOrder":3},"adult":true,"immature":true}]},"occurrenceDelineations":[{"eoSpecsDetailId":1577,"locationUseClass":{"id":1,"locationUseClassDescEn":"Not applicable","locationUseClassDescEs":"No se aplica","locationUseClassDescFr":"Sans objet","displayOrder":1},"eoSpecGroupName":"Walrus","subtypes":null,"inferredExtentDistance":null,"inferredExtentNotes":null,"minimumEoCriteria":"Evidence of historical presence, or current and likely recurring presence, at a given location. Such evidence minimally includes reliable observation and documentation of breeding individuals over several years. Breeding sites may consist of traditionally favored areas several hundred square kilometers in extent.","mappingGuidance":null,"separationBarriers":"None.","separationDistanceUnsuitableHabitatat":50.0,"separationDistanceSuitableHabitatat":50.0,"altSeparationProcedure":null,"separationJustification":"Separation distance arbitrary. Little is known of Walrus breeding behavior and individual fidelity to breeding areas or other haulouts.","versionDate":null,"versionAuthor":null,"versionNotes":null,"lastModified":"2020-04-30T02:13:31.683808Z"}],"plantCharacteristics":null,"elementManagement":{"elementGlobalId":102198,"eoManagementGroupName":null,"stewardshipOverview":null,"impacts":null,"restorationPotential":null,"siteConservationPlansConsidered":null,"managementMethods":null,"monitoringMethods":null,"managementProgramContacts":null,"monitoringProgramContacts":null,"managementResearchPrograms":null,"managementResearchNeeds":null,"biologicalResearchNeeds":null,"additionalTopics":null},"occurrenceViabilities":[{"eoRankSpecsDetailId":103719,"eoRankSpecsGroupName":null,"locationUseClass":{"id":1,"locationUseClassDescEn":"Not applicable","locationUseClassDescEs":"No se aplica","locationUseClassDescFr":"Sans objet","displayOrder":1},"excellentViability":null,"goodViability":null,"fairViability":null,"poorViability":null,"viabilityJustification":"Use the Generic Guidelines for the Application of Occurrence Ranks (2008).<br>The Key for Ranking Species Occurrences Using the Generic Approach provides a step-wise process for implementing this method.","versionDate":null,"versionAuthor":null,"versionNotes":null,"lastModified":"2020-05-14T02:20:59.911155Z"}],"references":[{"id":1151804,"citation":"American Society of Mammalogists (ASM). 2025. Mammal Diversity Database (Version 1.13) [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10595931. Online. Available: https://www.mammaldiversity.org/","shortCitationAuthor":"American Society of Mammalogists (ASM)","shortCitationYear":2025,"referenceCode":"W25ASM01NAUS","lastModified":"2025-04-04T21:45:15.526109Z"},{"id":119122,"citation":"Banfield, A. W. F. 1974. The mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Canada. 438 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Banfield","shortCitationYear":1974,"referenceCode":"B74BAN01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:12:03.631914Z"},{"id":622900,"citation":"Born, E. W., Andersen, L. W., Gjertz, I. and Ø. Wiig, 2001. A review of the genetic relationships of Atlantic walrus <i>(Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) </i>east and west of Greenland. Polar Biology 24:713-718. ","shortCitationAuthor":"Born et al.","shortCitationYear":2001,"referenceCode":"A01BOR02NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:17:07.245867Z"},{"id":759420,"citation":"Bradley, R.D., L.K. Ammerman, R.J. Baker, L.C. Bradley, J.A. Cook. R.C. Dowler, C. Jones, D.J. Schmidly, F.B. Stangl Jr., R.A. Van den Bussche and B. Würsig. 2014. Revised checklist of North American mammals north of Mexico, 2014. Museum of Texas Tech University Occasional Papers 327:1-28. Available at: http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/publications/opapers/ops/OP327.pdf","shortCitationAuthor":"Bradley et al.","shortCitationYear":2014,"referenceCode":"A14BRA01NACA","lastModified":"2020-02-25T14:38:17.880059Z"},{"id":120892,"citation":"Cronin, M. A., S. Hills, E. W. Born, and J. C. Patton. 1994. Mitochondrial DNA variation in Atlantic and Pacific walruses. Canadian Journal of Zoology 72:1035-1043.","shortCitationAuthor":"Cronin et al.","shortCitationYear":1994,"referenceCode":"A94CRO01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:17:07.245867Z"},{"id":763503,"citation":"Fay, F.H. 1957. History and present status of the Pacific walrus population. Trans. N. Am. Wildl. Conf. 22:431-443.","shortCitationAuthor":"Fay","shortCitationYear":1957,"referenceCode":"A57FAY61HQUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:17:07.26155Z"},{"id":155101,"citation":"Fay, F.H. 1982. Ecology and biology of the pacific walrus, Odobenus rosmarus divergens (Illiger). United States Dept. of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. Washington, D.C.Number 74. 279 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Fay","shortCitationYear":1982,"referenceCode":"B82FAY01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:17:07.245867Z"},{"id":110852,"citation":"Fay, F.H. 1985. <i>Odobenus rosmarus</i>. Mammalian Species 238: 1-7.","shortCitationAuthor":"Fay","shortCitationYear":1985,"referenceCode":"A85FAY01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:17:07.245867Z"},{"id":136534,"citation":"Fay, F. H., L. L. Eberhardt, B. P. Kelly, J. J. Burns, and L. T. Quakenbush. 1997. Status of the Pacific walrus population, 1950-1989. 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Available: https://naturalhistory.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/inline/images/names_and_synonyms_ver3.pdf","shortCitationAuthor":"Hebda","shortCitationYear":2011,"referenceCode":"N11HEB01EHUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:12:30.726311Z"},{"id":156383,"citation":"Jones, J. K., Jr., R. S. Hoffman, D. W. Rice, C. Jones, R. J. Baker, and M. D. Engstrom. 1992a. Revised checklist of North American mammals north of Mexico, 1991. Occasional Papers, The Museum, Texas Tech University, 146:1-23.","shortCitationAuthor":"Jones et al.","shortCitationYear":1992,"referenceCode":"B92JON01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T14:38:17.880059Z"},{"id":117702,"citation":"Kingsley, M.C.S. 1998. Walruses, <i>Odobenus rosmarus</i>, in the Gulf and estuary of the St. Lawrence, 1992-1996. Canadian Field-Naturalist 112:90-93.","shortCitationAuthor":"Kingsley","shortCitationYear":1998,"referenceCode":"A98KIN01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:17:07.245867Z"},{"id":764065,"citation":"Krylov, V.I. 1968. Present condition of Pacific walrus stocks and prospects of their rational utilization. Izv. TINRO 62:189-204.","shortCitationAuthor":"Krylov","shortCitationYear":1968,"referenceCode":"A68KRY61HQUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:17:07.245867Z"},{"id":142700,"citation":"Reeves, R. R. 1978. Atlantic walrus (<i>Odobenus rosmarus </i><i>rosmarus</i>): a literature survey and status report. USFWS Wildl. Res. Rep. 10:1-41.","shortCitationAuthor":"Reeves","shortCitationYear":1978,"referenceCode":"B78REE01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:17:07.245867Z"},{"id":148264,"citation":"Reeves, R. R., B. S. Stewart, and S. Leatherwood. 1992. The Sierra Club Handbook of Seals and Sirenians. Sierra Club Books, San Francisco, California. xvi + 359 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Reeves et al.","shortCitationYear":1992,"referenceCode":"B92REE01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:12:59.398399Z"},{"id":138742,"citation":"Rice, D. W. 1998. Marine mammals of the world: systematics and distribution. 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Personal communication between David Tessler, Biologist, Non-game Program, Anchorage Regional Office, Alaska Department of Fish and Game and Tracey Gotthardt, Zoologist, Alaska Natural Heritage Program, Environment and Natural Resources Institute, University of Alaska Anchorage.","shortCitationAuthor":"Tessler","shortCitationYear":2004,"referenceCode":"P04TES61HQUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:17:07.245867Z"},{"id":765225,"citation":"U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1995. Stock assessment, Pacific walrus (<i>Odobenus rosmarus divergens</i>), Alaska stock. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management. Anchorage, Alaska. Oct. 4, 1995. 10 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"USFWS","shortCitationYear":1995,"referenceCode":"N95FWS61HQUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:17:07.245867Z"},{"id":765234,"citation":"U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2002. Stock assessment for Pacific walrus (<i>Odobenus rosmarus divergens</i>): Alaska stock. Marine Mammal Protection Act Stock Assessment Report. 6 pp. Available online at: http://alaska.fws.gov/fisheries/mmm/stock/finalpwalrusalaska.pdf.","shortCitationAuthor":"USFWS","shortCitationYear":2002,"referenceCode":"N02FWS61HQUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:17:07.26155Z"},{"id":765239,"citation":"U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). 2001. Pacific walrus research. Alaska Biological Science Center, USGS, Biological Resources Division. Anchorage, Alaska","shortCitationAuthor":"USGS","shortCitationYear":2001,"referenceCode":"N01UGS61HQUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:17:07.245867Z"},{"id":117022,"citation":"Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.","shortCitationAuthor":"Wilson and Reeder","shortCitationYear":1993,"referenceCode":"B93WIL01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T14:38:17.880059Z"},{"id":477777,"citation":"Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 2005. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Third edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. Two volumes. 2,142 pp. [As modified by ASM the Mammal Diversity Database (MDD) at https://www.mammaldiversity.org/index.html]","shortCitationAuthor":"Wilson and Reeder","shortCitationYear":2005,"referenceCode":"B05WIL01NAUS","lastModified":"2022-07-02T00:44:59.638537Z"}],"otherCommonNames":[{"id":136346,"name":"morse","language":"EN"},{"id":188370,"name":"Morse","language":"FR"}],"speciesGlobal":{"elementGlobalId":102198,"cites":{"id":3,"citesDescEn":"Appendix III","citesDescEs":"Apéndice III","citesDescFr":"Annexe III"},"cosewic":null,"fwsRegion":null,"genusSize":{"id":1,"genusSizeDescEn":"Monotypic genus","genusSizeDescEs":"Género monotípico","genusSizeDescFr":"Genre monotypique"},"jurisEndem":{"id":5,"jurisEndemDescEn":"occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations","jurisEndemDescEs":"Se encuentra en varias naciones (de manera regular, como un taxón nativo)","jurisEndemDescFr":"Se trouve dans plusieurs nations (de façon régulière, tel un taxon indigène)"},"nomenclaturallyEst":null,"usesa":null,"informalTaxonomy":{"informalTaxonomyId":6,"level1":"Animals","level2":"Vertebrates","level3":"Mammals","level":3,"hasChildren":false,"parentId":2,"distributionStatus":"complete","displayOrder":1090},"parentSpecies":null,"infraspecies":false,"kingdom":"Animalia","phylum":"Craniata","taxclass":"Mammalia","taxorder":"Carnivora","family":"Odobenidae","genus":"Odobenus","americanFisheriesStatus":null,"americanFisheriesStatusDate":null,"saraStatus":null,"saraStatusDate":null,"cosewicDate":null,"interpretedCosewic":"X,SC","cosewicComments":"The Atlantic Walrus in Canada was originally treated by COSEWIC as two separate populations: Eastern Arctic population (Not at Risk in April 1987 and May 2000) and Northwest Atlantic population (Extirpated in April 1987 and May 2000). In April 2006, COSEWIC included both populations in a single designatable unit for Atlantic Walrus in Canada, and the species was designated Special Concern. Split into three populations in April 2017. The High Arctic population and the Central / Low Arctic population were designated Special Concern and the Nova Scotia – Newfoundland – Gulf of St Lawrence population was designated Extinct.","usesaDate":null,"interpretedUsesa":null,"usesaComments":"The Pacific walrus <i>Odobenus rosmarus </i>ssp. <i>divergens </i>was added to the candidate species list in 2011. In 2017 USFWS found that listing this species is not warranted at this time.","completeDistribution":true,"synonyms":[],"infraspeciesList":[{"infraspeciesId":741301,"uniqueId":"ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.741301","formattedScientificName":"<i>Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus</i>","scientificName":"Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus","primaryCommonName":"Atlantic Walrus","nsxUrl":"/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.741301/Odobenus_rosmarus_rosmarus"},{"infraspeciesId":777425,"uniqueId":"ELEMENT_GLOBAL.79.732544","formattedScientificName":"<i>Odobenus rosmarus</i> pop. 2","scientificName":"Odobenus rosmarus pop. 2","primaryCommonName":"Atlantic Walrus - Eastern Arctic Population","nsxUrl":null},{"infraspeciesId":777429,"uniqueId":"ELEMENT_GLOBAL.79.732556","formattedScientificName":"<i>Odobenus rosmarus</i> pop. 1","scientificName":"Odobenus rosmarus pop. 1","primaryCommonName":"Atlantic Walrus - Northwest Atlantic Population","nsxUrl":null},{"infraspeciesId":1137468,"uniqueId":"ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1137468","formattedScientificName":"<i>Odobenus rosmarus divergens</i>","scientificName":"Odobenus rosmarus divergens","primaryCommonName":"Pacific Walrus","nsxUrl":"/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1137468/Odobenus_rosmarus_divergens"},{"infraspeciesId":1005264,"uniqueId":"ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1005264","formattedScientificName":"<i>Odobenus rosmarus</i> pop. 3","scientificName":"Odobenus rosmarus pop. 3","primaryCommonName":"Atlantic Walrus (High Arctic population)","nsxUrl":"/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1005264/Odobenus_rosmarus_pop_3"},{"infraspeciesId":1005274,"uniqueId":"ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1005274","formattedScientificName":"<i>Odobenus rosmarus</i> pop. 5","scientificName":"Odobenus rosmarus pop. 5","primaryCommonName":"Atlantic Walrus (Nova Scotia - Newfoundland - Gulf of St Lawrence population)","nsxUrl":"/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1005274/Odobenus_rosmarus_pop_5"},{"infraspeciesId":1005267,"uniqueId":"ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1005267","formattedScientificName":"<i>Odobenus rosmarus</i> pop. 4","scientificName":"Odobenus rosmarus pop. 4","primaryCommonName":"Atlantic Walrus (Central / Low Arctic population)","nsxUrl":"/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1005267/Odobenus_rosmarus_pop_4"}],"ebarId":null,"ebarCanadianScope":false,"ebarGlobalScope":false,"ebarKbaGroup":"Mammals","caGeneralStatusId":"GS001494"},"speciesCharacteristics":{"elementGlobalId":102198,"reproductionComments":"Females ovulate at 6-7 years.  Between 1950-1975, females ovulated at 4-8 years, but by the late 1980s the age of first ovulation had increased by about 2 years, presumably due to changes in the food supply (Fay 1982). Pacific females first give birth generally at about 10 years; males are sexually mature at 8-10 years but generally do not successfully mate until about 15 years old. Gestation lasts 15-16 months, including 4-5 months before implantation of fertilized egg. One calf (rarely 2) is born April to mid-June (mainly May). Calf is weaned by 2-2.5 years. Females in their prime give birth in alternate years. \"Mobile lek\" polygynous breeding system (Fay 1982). May live up to at least 40 years.","ecologyComments":"Gregarious, with groups of up to several hundred animals hauling out among ice floes, and groups of up to several thousand males at terrestrial haulouts during the summer. Natural adult mortality rate is relatively low.","habitatComments":"Ice floes are used by all individuals in the winter, as well as by adult females and young in the summer. Require ice thicknesses of 60 cm or more to support their weight (Richard 1990).  First-year ice with natural openings such as leads and polynyas is preferred; seldom found in areas of extensive, unbroken ice (Fay 1982).  Males use beaches of remote islets and coastal headlands for summer resting and molting sites. Generally does not haul out on shores with permanent human occupation. Generally occurs in shallow waters (less than 100 m deep) (Richard and Campbell 1988). Young are born on ice floes. Sediment in feeding areas is typically composed of soft, fine sand (Richard 1990).","generalDescription":"One of the largest pinnipeds, second only to the elephant seal (genus <i>Mirounga</i>).  Moderately sexually dimorphic, adult males range between 200 to 350 cm in length, and weigh from 800 to 1700 kilograms; females are smaller, generally between 166 and 290 cm long, and weigh between 536 and 1139 kg.  The most distinctive features of walrus are its tusks, present in both sexes. Tusks are elongated upper canine teeth that continue to grow throughout the life of the animal, first becoming externally visible at about one year, and are somewhat longer and thicker in males. About 400 mystacial vibrissae (stout, quill-like whiskers) make up the mustache of a walrus.  The head and body are covered with short, tawny hair but the flippers are bare. Hide is extremely thick and tough; dark when young; lighter with age.  Short, tawny hair gives chestnut to cinnamon color overall; can have pink to red color when hauled out and pale to white color when immersed in cold water (Fay 1982, 1985, Tessler, pers. comm. 2004).","diagnosticCharacteristics":null,"speciesMarineHabitats":[{"cagMarineHabId":-100443,"marineHabitat":{"id":1,"marineHabitatDescEn":"Pelagic","marineHabitatDescEs":"Pelágico","marineHabitatDescFr":"Pélagique","displayOrder":1}},{"cagMarineHabId":-100444,"marineHabitat":{"id":3,"marineHabitatDescEn":"Near shore","marineHabitatDescEs":"Cercano a la costa","marineHabitatDescFr":"Côtier","displayOrder":3}}],"speciesTerrestrialHabitats":[{"cagTerrHabId":-107544,"terrestrialHabitat":{"id":14,"terrestrialHabitatDescEn":"Ice","terrestrialHabitatDescEs":"Hielo","terrestrialHabitatDescFr":"Glace","displayOrder":16}},{"cagTerrHabId":-107545,"terrestrialHabitat":{"id":17,"terrestrialHabitatDescEn":"Bare rock/talus/scree","terrestrialHabitatDescEs":"Roca viva/pendiente de roca/piedras sueltas","terrestrialHabitatDescFr":"Éboulis","displayOrder":20}}],"speciesRiverineHabitats":[],"speciesPalustrineHabitats":[],"speciesLacustrineHabitats":[],"speciesSubterraneanHabitats":[],"speciesEstuarineHabitats":[{"cagEstuarineHabId":-100722,"estuarineHabitat":{"id":4,"estuarineHabitatDescEn":"Tidal flat/shore","estuarineHabitatDescEs":"Marea plana/orilla","estuarineHabitatDescFr":"Replat de marée/rivage","displayOrder":4}}]},"primaryReference":{"id":1151804,"citation":"American Society of Mammalogists (ASM). 2025. Mammal Diversity Database (Version 1.13) [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10595931. Online. Available: https://www.mammaldiversity.org/","shortCitationAuthor":"American Society of Mammalogists (ASM)","shortCitationYear":2025,"referenceCode":"W25ASM01NAUS","lastModified":"2025-04-04T21:45:15.526109Z"},"predecessors":[],"elementGlobalThreatAssessments":[{"elementGlobalThreatAssessId":19495,"iucnThreatCategory":{"id":19,"iucnThreatCategoryCd":"5","iucnThreatCategoryDescEn":"Biological resource use","iucnThreatCategoryDescEs":null,"iucnThreatCategoryDescFr":null,"displayValueEn":"5 - Biological resource use","displayValueEs":null,"displayValueFr":null,"displayOrder":330,"iucnThreat":"Y","parentThreatId":null,"iucnThreatLevel":1},"iucnThreatScope":null,"iucnThreatSeverity":null,"iucnThreatTiming":{"id":1,"iucnThreatTimingDescEn":"High: Continuing","iucnThreatTimingDescEs":null,"iucnThreatTimingDescFr":null,"displayValueEn":"High (continuing)","displayValueEs":null,"displayValueFr":null,"displayOrder":1},"threatImpactCalc":null},{"elementGlobalThreatAssessId":19496,"iucnThreatCategory":{"id":23,"iucnThreatCategoryCd":"5.4","iucnThreatCategoryDescEn":"Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources","iucnThreatCategoryDescEs":null,"iucnThreatCategoryDescFr":null,"displayValueEn":"5.4 - Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources","displayValueEs":null,"displayValueFr":null,"displayOrder":370,"iucnThreat":"Y","parentThreatId":19,"iucnThreatLevel":2},"iucnThreatScope":null,"iucnThreatSeverity":null,"iucnThreatTiming":{"id":1,"iucnThreatTimingDescEn":"High: Continuing","iucnThreatTimingDescEs":null,"iucnThreatTimingDescFr":null,"displayValueEn":"High (continuing)","displayValueEs":null,"displayValueFr":null,"displayOrder":1},"threatImpactCalc":null},{"elementGlobalThreatAssessId":19497,"iucnThreatCategory":{"id":24,"iucnThreatCategoryCd":"6","iucnThreatCategoryDescEn":"Human intrusions & disturbance","iucnThreatCategoryDescEs":null,"iucnThreatCategoryDescFr":null,"displayValueEn":"6 - Human intrusions & disturbance","displayValueEs":null,"displayValueFr":null,"displayOrder":380,"iucnThreat":"Y","parentThreatId":null,"iucnThreatLevel":1},"iucnThreatScope":null,"iucnThreatSeverity":null,"iucnThreatTiming":{"id":1,"iucnThreatTimingDescEn":"High: Continuing","iucnThreatTimingDescEs":null,"iucnThreatTimingDescFr":null,"displayValueEn":"High (continuing)","displayValueEs":null,"displayValueFr":null,"displayOrder":1},"threatImpactCalc":null},{"elementGlobalThreatAssessId":19498,"iucnThreatCategory":{"id":27,"iucnThreatCategoryCd":"6.3","iucnThreatCategoryDescEn":"Work & other activities","iucnThreatCategoryDescEs":null,"iucnThreatCategoryDescFr":null,"displayValueEn":"6.3 - Work & other activities","displayValueEs":null,"displayValueFr":null,"displayOrder":410,"iucnThreat":"Y","parentThreatId":24,"iucnThreatLevel":2},"iucnThreatScope":null,"iucnThreatSeverity":null,"iucnThreatTiming":{"id":1,"iucnThreatTimingDescEn":"High: Continuing","iucnThreatTimingDescEs":null,"iucnThreatTimingDescFr":null,"displayValueEn":"High (continuing)","displayValueEs":null,"displayValueFr":null,"displayOrder":1},"threatImpactCalc":null},{"elementGlobalThreatAssessId":19499,"iucnThreatCategory":{"id":47,"iucnThreatCategoryCd":"11","iucnThreatCategoryDescEn":"Climate change & severe weather","iucnThreatCategoryDescEs":null,"iucnThreatCategoryDescFr":null,"displayValueEn":"11 - Climate change & severe weather","displayValueEs":null,"displayValueFr":null,"displayOrder":840,"iucnThreat":"Y","parentThreatId":null,"iucnThreatLevel":1},"iucnThreatScope":null,"iucnThreatSeverity":null,"iucnThreatTiming":{"id":1,"iucnThreatTimingDescEn":"High: Continuing","iucnThreatTimingDescEs":null,"iucnThreatTimingDescFr":null,"displayValueEn":"High (continuing)","displayValueEs":null,"displayValueFr":null,"displayOrder":1},"threatImpactCalc":null},{"elementGlobalThreatAssessId":19500,"iucnThreatCategory":{"id":48,"iucnThreatCategoryCd":"11.1","iucnThreatCategoryDescEn":"Habitat shifting & alteration","iucnThreatCategoryDescEs":null,"iucnThreatCategoryDescFr":null,"displayValueEn":"11.1 - Habitat shifting & alteration","displayValueEs":null,"displayValueFr":null,"displayOrder":850,"iucnThreat":"Y","parentThreatId":47,"iucnThreatLevel":2},"iucnThreatScope":null,"iucnThreatSeverity":null,"iucnThreatTiming":{"id":1,"iucnThreatTimingDescEn":"High: Continuing","iucnThreatTimingDescEs":null,"iucnThreatTimingDescFr":null,"displayValueEn":"High (continuing)","displayValueEs":null,"displayValueFr":null,"displayOrder":1},"threatImpactCalc":null}]}