Best known for their large size, distinctive call, and of course, their massive tusks, walruses are the only living species of the family Odobenidae and the genus Odobenus.

History: Unfortunately, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, walruses were extensively hunted for blubber and ivory. This led to a disastrous decline in their numbers, from which they have spent the last 100 years trying to recover. Fortunately, the number of marine waters is increasing, although some groups remain fragmented and their populations are low compared to many species in the Arctic region.

Characteristics: There are three subspecies of walrus: the Atlantic, Pacific, and Laptev walrus. Walruses are recognized as a keystone species in the marine Arctic region and are significant in terms of the overall health of the habitat.