Pinnipeds. Pinniped mammals: general characteristics How the body of walruses and seals is covered

Pinnipeds - extremely interesting squad mammals. Closely related to aquatic environment, they are well adapted to it. Their limbs-flippers are flattened, the fingers are connected by a dense leathery membrane. Thanks to flippers, animals move very quickly in the water, where they spend considerable time.

In total, there are about 30 species of pinnipeds in the world - these are seals, walruses, ringed seals, fur seals, sea lions, sea ​​lions etc.

Pinnipeds are close in origin to terrestrial predators, from which they separated in the Tertiary period. This group of animals is relatively young.

All animals included in the squad are quite large animals, their length is 1.2-6 m, they weigh from 40 kg to 3.5 tons. The body of these animals is elongated, spindle-shaped, the neck is not sharply demarcated from the head and body. As we have already said, as a result of adaptation to swimming, the limbs of pinnipeds have changed and are also greatly reduced: most of them are hidden in the body of the animal, and the shoulder, forearm, thigh and lower leg are sharply shortened. The claws of animals are developed differently: in eared seals and walruses they are very small, and sometimes completely absent, but in real seals they are very visible, especially on the forelimbs. Flippers are only organs of movement; animals are not able to hold food with them.

The skin of pinnipeds is very thick, covered with short, stiff hair, usually without down. This is one of the devices for long stays in water. Animals are protected from the cold by a thick subcutaneous layer of fat, which is especially dense in species inhabiting subpolar latitudes and breeding on ice floes.

The pinniped's skeleton is distinguished by the absence of tubular bones and clavicles. The fact is that the extreme monotony of the movements performed by animals has led to the fact that collarbones are simply no longer needed. And the teeth of the representatives of the order are relatively simple, because their main task is to grab and hold prey, and not chew it.

These animals feed on fish, mollusks, and crustaceans; leopard seal - penguins and seals.

These animals have excellent hearing, both on the surface of the water and in ocean depths. But they do not have ears (only the eared seals have their rudimentary remains preserved). When immersed in water, the external auditory opening reflexively closes with special circular muscles. While swimming underwater, some pinnipeds make faint sounds (“clicking”).

The sense of smell, like hearing, is well developed in pinnipeds. Moving downwind (in absolute silence), it is impossible to approach the rookery closer than 150-200 m, while at the same time, against the wind, an observer or hunter, maintaining camouflage, can get to the animals at a distance of 10-20 m, or even closer.

The vision of pinnipeds is weak due to the flat cornea and the low ability of the lens to accommodate. However, often aquatic vertebrates are generally myopic.

Foraging for seals and walruses long time spend under water: walruses up to 16 minutes, real seals a little less - up to 15 minutes. The lung sizes of animals of this order are somewhat larger than those of terrestrial predators. Circulatory system also helps seals stay under water for a long time. They have more blood than land animals, and therefore their body is better supplied with oxygen. The blood mass in pinnipeds is 10-15% of body weight, in a dog - 6-8, and in a pig - only 3-5.

Yet pinnipeds, unlike cetaceans, did not completely break with the land. These animals breed only on the shore. Some of them (seals, sea lions, monk seals, etc.) give birth to their young on the beaches of islands or continents, others (harp seals, walruses, hooded seals) give birth to their offspring on floating ice floes or use the ice of shallow waters near the shore for this.

Pinnipeds give birth to no more than 1 cub per year, and become sexually mature no earlier than at 3 years. Small seals differ from adult seals: they are covered with thick embryonic fur, which remains for several weeks. They don't have subcutaneous fat yet. The offspring grows quickly due to the fact that mother's milk is very nutritious.

Pinnipeds are valuable game animals. No wonder they have been hunted since time immemorial. Particularly valuable are the skins and fat of animals, which are used in many sectors of the economy. But sometimes fishing was too intense and some species became endangered, such as fur seals. These animals were taken under protection, nature reserves and sanctuaries were created. Now the herd of animals has gradually recovered. Limited hunting is permitted for some species of pinnipeds.

Seals, sea lions and walruses are oceanic mammals in the group Pinnipeds (Seals). Seals' connection with water is not as close as that of whales. Seals require mandatory rest on land.

Seals are related, but are in different taxonomic families.

• The so-called earless (true) seals are members of the Canidae family - Phocidae.
• Sea lions and seals are members of the family Otariidae (Steller sea lions).
• Walruses belong to the Walrus family.

The main difference between earless and eared seals is their ears.

• Sea lions have external ear flaps. These folds of skin are designed to protect the ear from water when the seal swims or dives.
• “True” seals have no external ears at all. Need to get very close to them to see the tiny holes on the sides of the seal's smooth head.

Another difference between seal groups is their rear flippers:

In real seals, the back flippers do not bend or tuck forward, but only backward. This prevents them from "walking" on the ground. They move on land using wave-like body movements.

Sea lions ( fur seals and sea lions) can move on land using their hind legs (flippers).

Third difference:

Fourth difference:

• Sea lions are noisy animals.
• Real seals are much quieter - their vocalizations resemble soft grunts.

There are 18 species of true seals and 16 species of eared seals.

The largest representative of true seals is the southern elephant seal. A massive male, weighing up to 8,500 pounds. (3,855.5 kg). Female elephant seals are much smaller, but still weigh more than a 2,000-pound car.

Males measure about 20 feet (6 meters) in length, with females measuring about half as long.

The smallest representative of true (earless) seals is the seal. At the seal average length body 5 feet (1.5 m) and weight from 110 to 150 pounds (that's 50 - 70 kg). Unlike other seals, male and female seals are approximately the same size.

The seal is the most common seal species in the Arctic, according to study National Administration oceanic and atmospheric phenomena(NOAA).

Of the 16 species of eared seals, seven are species of sea lions.

One of the most known species, according to NOAA, is considered a California sea lion. IN wildlife these animals live along the west coast North America. They can often be seen basking on beaches and piers.

Males average about 700 pounds (315 kg) and can reach weights of over 1,000 pounds (455 kg). Females weigh on average 240 pounds (110 kg).

Natural environment of seals (seals)

True seals usually live in the cold ocean waters of the Arctic and off the coast of Antarctica.

Harp (harp seal), ringed seal (akiba), Icelandic hooded seal, sea ​​hare(beard seal), spotted seal (larga), bearded walrus and lionfish - live in the Arctic.

Crabeater, Weddell, leopard seals and Ross seals live in Antarctica.

Fur seals and sea lions live in the northern part Pacific Ocean between Asia and North America, and off the coast South America, Antarctica, South West Africa and southern Australia. They can spend about two years in the open ocean before returning to their breeding grounds.

Some seals make caves in the snow. Others never leave the ice and poke breathing holes in the ice.

What do seals eat?

Seals primarily hunt fish, but they also eat eel, squid, octopus and lobster.

Leopard seals are capable of eating penguins and small seals.

The gray seal is capable of eating up to 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of food per day. He sometimes skips meals for several days in a row, and lives off the energy of stored fat. And often it stops feeding completely - during the mating season it does not feed for several weeks.

All pinnipeds - from true seals (earless) to eared seals (steller sea lions) and walruses (tusked odobenids) - are carnivores. They are related to dogs, coyotes, foxes, wolves, skunks, otters and bears.

How do Squirrels appear?

When mating season arrives, male seals will make deep guttural sounds to attract the attention of females. The male seal also calls other males to a duel using sounds.

Seals are very territorial animals when it comes to mating. They will fight for the right to mate, striking and biting each other. The winner gets the opportunity to mate with 50 females in their area.

The female's pregnancy lasts about 10 months. When they feel it is time to give birth, some of them dig nests in the sand, where they give birth to their young. Other seals lay their babies directly on the iceberg, on the snow.

Squirrels are the name given to seal puppies.

Seals and sea lions only have one pup per year. Mothers will feed the squirrels on the ground until they grow waterproof fur. This may take about 1 month.

Females will mate and become pregnant again as soon as her squirrel is weaned.

Males are not able to mate until they are 8 years old because they need to be tall enough and strong enough to win a mating fight.

A few other facts about seals

All pinnipeds - seals, sea lions and walruses - are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Most seals are not considered endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

However, there are a few exceptions.

The Caribbean seal was declared extinct in 2008.

• The Galapagos seal and the monk seal are both critically endangered.
• Some local groups, such as Gray seals in the Baltic Sea, are also at risk.
• Northern fur seals and hooded seals are also vulnerable.

Northern seals, Baikal seals and Ursula seals are also vulnerable animals. They are being bred at the New England Aquarium in Boston.

The crabeater seal, among the seal species, has the largest population in the world. It is estimated that there are up to 75 million individual individuals.

The Elephant Seal has what is called "smoker's blood" - it has the same amount of carbon monoxide in its blood as a person who smokes 40 or more cigarettes a day. Scientists believe that this high level gas in the blood protects them when they dive into the deep ocean levels.

Harp seals can stay underwater for up to 15 minutes.

The Weddell Seal results are even more impressive. Their record for staying underwater is 80 minutes. They only come up to grab air when they find holes in the layers of ice above the ocean.

California's Farallones National Marine Sanctuary is home to one-fifth of the world's seals. These marine mammals believe they have found a safe haven within the sanctuary.

The order Pinnipeds is a small group with approximately 30 species. There are three families:

• real seals;
• eared seals;
• walruses.

Predatory animals live mainly in water. They stay on land during certain life periods.

General characteristics

As already mentioned, representatives of this group are walruses and seals. Let us describe their general characteristics. Pinnipeds are fairly large animals with a maximum body weight of 3.5 tons and a body length of up to 6 meters. The elongated, rounded body tapers towards the head and tail. The neck is thick and inactive, with the exception of eared seals. Most of the limbs are hidden in the trunk sac. A thick leathery membrane binds the fingers of the limbs, forming flippers. All this is typical for these mammals (order Pinnipeds). U different types Animal claws are unequally developed.

They use their limbs only for movement. With the help of their hind flippers, animals perform oscillatory movements. At the same time, the main muscle load falls on the back of the body. The front flippers balance the huge body and act as a rudder. The listed characteristics of pinnipeds indicate their adaptation to the aquatic environment.

The skin is thick with coarse hair. Subcutaneous fat The new layer reliably protects against hypothermia. The teeth of this class of animals are intended only for holding and grasping food. The brain case is large, the brain is large. There are no external shells, but they have good hearing. When immersed in the auditory opening, it narrows thanks to the muscles. Pinnipeds can make barely audible sounds. The olfactory organs are developed satisfactorily. Vision is practically absent. Vibrissae, which are long hairs, serve as the main animal.

While obtaining food, pinnipeds are able to stay in the water for a long time. The lungs are larger than those of terrestrial predators and provide complete exhalation and inhalation of a new portion of air. Lung tissue is elastic, thickened pleura, developed muscles.

Pinnipeds feed on crustaceans, mollusks, seabirds, fish. Food is obtained only in the depths of the waters.

Walruses and seals prefer to rest on ice floes. Pinnipeds lead a gregarious lifestyle. The largest concentrations of animals form during the period of reproduction and molting. Some prefer others to migrate.

Natural enemies are:

• leopard seals;
• polar bears;
• large sharks;
• orcas.

Pinnipeds go ashore or on ice to mate and reproduce. At three years old comes puberty. Mostly one cub is born once a year. The body of newborns is covered with thick fur, which differs in color and structure from the fur of adults. After a few weeks, the fur of the younger generation changes. Babies grow quickly, feeding on their mother's rich milk. After finishing feeding, the cub becomes independent. Pinnipeds live up to 40 years.

Walruses

The walrus is one of the most large mammals class pinnipeds.

Representatives of this class can be found in the Chukchi Sea, off the Franz Josef Land archipelago, off the coast of the Novaya Zemlya islands, and in the shallow seas of the Arctic Ocean.

Description

Walruses have powerful tusks, 2-4 kg each, which protrude 50 cm above the gums. In females they are thinner and shorter. The main function of the tusks is to obtain food by loosening the sandy or muddy surface of the bottom. Walruses can reach up to 4 m in length and weigh 1.5 tons. Despite such body weight, these are agile and agile animals. The entire body of mammals is covered with hard and sparse reddish hairs. Subcutaneous fat up to 10 cm thick reliably protects against hypothermia.

Walruses don't freeze in ice water and they are not afraid of severe frosts. Due to the presence of a subcutaneous air sac, which is connected to the pharynx, they do not drown in water during sound sleep. On upper lip there are thick, mobile and dense vibrissae (sensory organs) located in several rows. They know by smell that danger is approaching. Have poor eyesight. There are no external auricles. The nostrils and ear openings close tightly when immersed in water. Flippers help animals dive and swim. The back flippers help push off the surface of the ground and ice.

Lifestyle

Rookeries are established on ice floes or on coastlines. In case of danger, they panic, rise from their homes and, crushing each other, go into the water, leaving behind the carcasses of dead animals.

Reproduction

Walruses breed from the age of five years once every three or four years. The walrus gives birth to one calf. The female feeds him until the fangs (tusks) grow. She is a very caring mother and will never leave her cub in danger.

Threats

Uncontrolled walrus fishing led to a significant decline in numbers. Since the fifties of the last century, their hunting has been prohibited. An exception was made only for the local population (Yakuts, Chukchi), who are licensed to hunt walrus to satisfy their personal needs. Some species of walrus are included in the Red Book as endangered mammals.

Seal family

The elephant seal is the largest representative of pinnipeds among seals and lives in the subantarctic and subarctic seas.

It got its name due to the presence of a leathery sac, which is located in the nose of males. The seal spends most of its life in water. Males weigh more than three tons and are 6.5 m long. The weight and size of females depend on the genus to which they belong.

Pinnipeds are a commercial prey species. The skins are used to make shoes and clothing. Meat is eaten. The skins of young individuals are used as fur raw materials. Seal fur is in particular demand.

The walrus is the largest representative of pinnipeds in the Northern Hemisphere; it is second only in size to Southern Hemisphere. Systematically, the walrus is an intermediate link between eared and true seals and is the only species in the walrus family.

Appearance

The walrus is large with very thick skin. The upper canines are extremely developed, elongated and directed downwards. The very wide muzzle is seated with numerous thick, hard, flattened whiskers; a walrus can have from 400 to 700 of them on the upper lip, arranged in 13-18 rows. Walruses do not have external ears and their eyes are small.

The skin of the walrus is covered with short, adjacent yellow-brown hair, but with age there is less hair, and in older animals the skin is almost completely bare. The limbs are more adapted for movement on land than those of true seals, and walruses can walk rather than crawl. The tail of these mammals is rudimentary.

Although some Pacific males can weigh up to 2000 kg, most weigh between 800 and 1700 kg. The Atlantic subspecies weighs 10-20% less. Atlantic walruses also tend to have relatively short tusks and a somewhat flatter muzzle. Some males of the Pacific subspecies were much larger than normal.

Females weigh about a third less, Atlantic females on average 560 kg, sometimes weighing only 400 kg, and Pacific females on average 794 kg with a length of 2.2 to 3.6 m. The incisors of the upper jaw are small or completely reduced, in the lower jaw there are no incisors.

The testes are hidden under the skin-fat layer and are not located in the scrotum. Walruses usually have 2 pairs mammary glands, sometimes more, and it is not uncommon to have 5 nipples. Thus, out of 7 walruses of the Pacific and Atlantic subspecies, which are kept in the Udmurtia Zoo and in the Dolfinarium Harderwijk (Harderwijk, the Netherlands), three have five teats each. Males have paired air sacs without closing valves, formed by a protrusion of the upper esophagus. The bags swell under the skin of the neck, turning upward, and allow the walrus to float vertically in the water during sleep.

The skin of these animals is very durable and thick, its thickness on the chest is 4 centimeters, and on the stomach – 8 centimeters. Walrus skin acts as a thick protective shell. The skin of males is covered with peculiar bumps, which are a secondary sexual characteristic.

The flippers of walruses are also noteworthy. Their front flippers are calloused, very mobile and flexible. And the hind ones bend only at the heel joint, thanks to this the walrus rests on them when moving on the ground, ice and stones.

Walruses lead a herd lifestyle. The habitat of walruses is coastal waters, the depth of which is no more than 5 meters. This is the optimal depth for these pinnipeds.

Nutrition

Walruses find food on the seabed with the help of their sensitive vibrissae. The basis of the diet is shellfish. The walrus sinks its fangs into the muddy bottom and rises up large number shells. The walrus grinds the shells with its large calloused flippers and cracks the shell. The shells fall to the bottom, and the bodies of the mollusks remain in the water; the walrus can only swallow them. In order for a walrus to be satisfied, it must consume at least 50 kilograms of shellfish every day.

In addition, these animals feed on crustaceans, various worms and carrion. Representatives of this species do not like fish, but if there is no other food, they are reluctant to eat it. In some cases, large walruses attack narwhals and seals. But not all representatives of the species are capable of such bloodthirsty behavior. Most walruses don't do this.

Walruses are also not prone to cannibalism. These animals, on the contrary, are very friendly with each other. If there is danger, walruses always come to each other’s rescue. These large animals treat babies with reverence and affection. Mothers are ready to sacrifice their lives for the sake of their babies. If the mother dies, then other females take her cub under their care.

Rookeries

Walrus rookeries are a very interesting sight. There are a huge number of bodies lying on the stones, pressed tightly against each other. Some individuals crawl into the water, while others return to the rookery. In such a huge mass, both individual skirmishes occur and friendships are formed.

The peace of the rookery is guarded by shift sentries. In case of danger, the sentries roar, and massive carcasses instantly rush into the water. Children can die in such crushes. But more often the mother manages to save her offspring by covering them with her strong body. Walruses establish rookeries not only on land, but also on ice floes. Pack ice is not suitable for these purposes; only females give birth to offspring on it.

Habitat

The range of walruses is circumpolar, that is, it covers in a ring North Pole. Unlike seals, walruses avoid vast expanses of water and endless pack (multi-year) ice, so they are found only on the coasts of Europe, Asia, North America and the Arctic islands. Due to the decline in numbers, the walrus habitat has now been broken into several unconnected areas.

Largest number these animals live on Chukotka Peninsula, the shores of the Bering Strait and the Labrador Peninsula, there are few walruses in the western and central parts of the coast of Eurasia. Seasonal migrations of walruses are very short: in winter they move south, but only a few hundred kilometers, which is not much for such animals.

Lifestyle

Walruses lead a herd lifestyle. They live in groups of 10-20 individuals, but can form rookeries of up to 100-3000 individuals (more often such large groups created by females). Unlike other pinnipeds, walruses in rookeries try to lie as close to each other as possible, and they do this not due to lack of space, but quite consciously. Even if there is free space, the herd of walruses does not disperse along the coastline, but stays crowded together, and they dive into the water just as unitedly.

In relation to their relatives, walruses are more peaceful than other seals. Even in mating season they do not have fatal fights; adults do not crush young animals, as happens in other species. There is no hierarchy in the herd; all members of the herd are more or less equal in their rights.

The walrus's voice is a roar, but in general these animals are more silent than the ever-noisy sea lions and fur seals, in whose rookeries one can hear hubbub. On the ground or on an ice floe, walruses rest lying down and do not move far from the water's edge, which is probably due to the massiveness of their bodies, which makes it difficult to move on land. For the same reason, walruses cannot climb even low, steep rocks; when climbing out onto a flat ice floe, the walrus often leans on its tusks. The tusks also serve the walrus in emergency situations, when the hole is covered with ice, then the walrus breaks through the ice crust to get to the surface.

Walruses all go in search of food at the same time and generally move in the water as a herd. They swim well and can spend the whole day in the water. Walruses can sleep not only on land, but also in water - their bodies, containing 150-250 kg of fat, are unsinkable.

Reproduction

The breeding season for walruses begins in April-May. The males fight among themselves and inflict wounds on each other with their fangs, but deaths doesn't happen. This is due both to the generally low aggressiveness of males and to the thick layer of fat and skin (its thickness reaches 3-4 cm), which protects internal organs. Walruses do not create harems and females move freely within the rookery.

Pregnancy lasts 330-370 days and birth occurs during the next mating season. The female always gives birth to one calf, about 1 m long and weighing 60 kg. From the first days of life, the cub knows how to swim and, in case of danger, leaves the ice floe with its mother. If for some reason the cub cannot do this, the mother remains next to him, even if she is in mortal danger.

The mother feeds the cub with milk for a record long time - 2 years! Only when the walrus has long tusks does it move on to self-catering. For this reason, most females give birth only once every 3-4 years, only 5% give birth every other year and another 5% annually (those whose cubs died). Walruses grow slowly and reach sexual maturity only at 6 years of age. Walruses live in nature and in captivity for up to 40 years.

Enemies and human predation

In huge arctic lands These strong pinnipeds have only three enemies. The first place among them is occupied by people, the second - and third -. Man hunts walruses for their meat, tusks, fat and skin. In the last decade, humanity has put an end to the reckless killing of walruses.

Today, the law defines spill rules and restrictions on catching these pinnipeds, which allows at least to some extent to cause minimal damage to nature. Only the indigenous inhabitants of the Arctic - the Eskimos and Chukchi - have the right to hunt walruses. All other citizens are prohibited from hunting walruses. Such actions are regarded as poaching.

Walrus hunting takes place towards the end of summer. Traditionally, all parts of the harvested walrus are used. Meat is often preserved and is important source proteins within long winter. Fins are fermented and stored as a delicacy until spring. Tusks and bones have historically been used as tools, as well as ornamental material. Melted lard is used for heating and lighting. The durable hide is used as rope and for building shelters, as well as for covering boats. Waterproof capes are made from the intestines and stomach. Meanwhile modern technologies provide a substitute for many uses of the walrus, walrus meat continues to be an essential part of the indigenous diet, just as tusk crafts form an important part of folklore for many communities.

Although the polar bear is a formidable predator, it cannot cope with a walrus in the water. These pinnipeds are better adapted to sea ​​elements, so in a fight the bear always remains the loser. On land, it is also difficult for a bear to cope with a walrus, so predators mainly choose cubs or old and sick individuals. In any case, polar bears do not often enter walrus rookeries. Only severe hunger can make polar bear attack the walrus. And if there are a lot of seals around, the bear ignores the walruses and prefers easier prey.

Killer whales also pose a threat to walruses. Killer whales can grow up to 9 meters in length. These marine mammals have strong jaws And sharp teeth. The fanged walrus cannot provide adequate resistance to this ferocious predator, because the killer whale is almost 3 times larger than the walrus and 4 times heavier. A walrus can be saved only in one case - if it manages to quickly get to land. In the open sea, a pod of killer whales, consisting of 1.5 dozen individuals, can easily cope with 50 walruses. Killer whales have the same hunting tactics - they crash into a flock of walruses, break it into separate parts, surround one part and eat it.

Influence global change climate on the walrus population is another factor that needs to be taken into account. In particular, the reduction in the extent and thickness of pack ice has been well documented. It is on this ice that walruses form rookeries during the reproductive period for birth and mating. As a hypothesis, it is hypothesized that decreasing pack ice thickness in the Bering Sea has resulted in a reduction in suitable resting areas near optimal feeding areas. As a result, the duration of the mother's absence from the nurse increases, which ultimately leads to nutritional stress or a decrease in the reproductive contribution of females. However, scientists still have little data, which makes it difficult to make a reliable conclusion about the impact of climate change on population trends.

Walruses are very smart and friendly animals. In captivity, they are perfectly tamed, learn many commands, and willingly perform even such complex tricks as playing the pipe, but they are found mainly in aquariums northern countries, since in the south it is difficult for them to provide low water temperatures.

Species

There are two subspecies of walrus:
Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divirgens Linnaeus, 1785)
Atlantic walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus Islliger, 1815)
The independence of the third subspecies, the Laptev walrus (Odobenus rosmarus laptevi Chapsky, 1940), has not been reliably confirmed.

Pacific walrus(lat. Odobenus rosmarus divergens) - marine mammal, the only modern species of the walrus family, traditionally classified as a pinniped. An adult walrus is easily recognizable by its prominent tusks. But at the Moscow Zoo, the tusks of walruses are removed so that they do not injure themselves or the zoo staff.

Most of the Pacific walrus population spends the summer north of the Bering Strait, in the Chukchi Sea along the northern coast eastern Siberia, near Wrangel Island, in the Beaufort Sea along the northern coast of Alaska and is also found in waters between these places. A small number of males are found in summer period in the Gulf of Anadyr, on the southern coast of the Chukotka Peninsula in Siberia, and also in Bristol Bay. In spring and autumn they concentrate from the western coast of Alaska to the Gulf of Anadyr. They winter in southern parts Bering Sea, along east coast Siberia south to the northern part of the Kamchatka Peninsula, as well as along the southern coast of Alaska.

Atlantic walrus – unique look ecological region Barents Sea. Refers to class of mammals, pinniped order, walrus family, walrus species (Odobenus rosmarus). Listed in the Red Book Russian Federation. Little has been studied, therefore all information concerning Atlantic walruses is sketchy at best, and non-existent at worst. But something is still known about these animals.

This is a very large animal (the weight of males reaches 2000 kg, length - 3 m, females - 1000 kg and 2.6 m) with a small head, small eyes, and a wide muzzle. The upper jaw has two long (34-38 cm) and powerful fang, brownish-brown skin. Outwardly they look unattractive, which is further aggravated by the festering eyes and the pungent fetid odor that comes from the walrus rookery with a huge number of stale fat bodies.

Juveniles are covered with rather thick hair, like the skin, dark brown in color; in adult animals the hair is coarse and sparse. On land, walruses are quite clumsy, moving with difficulty using all four limbs, but in water they move easily. Apparently, this is why they mostly lie on a hard surface, but move quite actively in water. These powerful animals feed on mollusks and crustaceans and can attack seal pups. In order to be satisfied, they need to eat 35-50 kg of food per day. Walruses live a long time - about 45 years, which is probably why they mature slowly; there is time: walruses become sexually mature at 6-10 years of age.

Laptev walrus lives throughout the Laptev Sea between Taimyr, Severnaya Zemlya and the New Siberian Islands. Within Taimyr it is found off the eastern shores of the peninsula Severnaya Zemlya, in the Vilkitsky Strait, in the area of ​​​​Cape Chelyuskin, Pronchishcheva Bay, on the islands of Komsomolskaya Pravda, Thaddeus, Peter, Preobrazheniya, Begichev, Peschany. The last three islands lie outside the borders of Taimyr.

Previously, quite large walrus rookeries were noted in many of the indicated places. Thanks to the protection measures taken, there is a tendency to expand the range. Walrus populations make short but regular migrations. With the appearance of a wide strip of fast ice, they migrate to deeper water areas and usually stay in the central part of the sea near polynyas.

The number of Laptev walruses located in the Taimyr rookeries, from Cape Chelyuskin to Cape Tsvetkov, is estimated at 340-360 individuals.

Curious facts

Surrounded in the water, animals selflessly protect themselves and their relatives until death: they dive under boats and make holes in them, and also overturn boats with their powerful tusks.

In the time of Captain Cook, sailors in thick fog could determine the proximity of the shore by the roar of mating walruses, heard several kilometers away, and thanks to this they often escaped from a collision with an ice floe.

The length of the baculum bone, which is located in the walrus penis, is approximately 50 cm, which is an absolute record among mammals in terms of body length, as well as absolute length. Thanks to this unique fact, the abusive expression “walrus horseradish” was born.

The answer to the question about the differences between seals and walruses should begin with a short excursion into the classification of these cute animals. Pinnipeds are a detachment whose representatives walk on flippers (here both are similar to each other). The order includes three families: true seals, eared seals and walruses.

There are 35 species of pinnipeds in the world. No more than 15 of them live in Russia.

True seals are a large family, with as many as 18 species. Eared animals include 14 species (including fur seals and sea lions). A distinctive feature of this family is the presence of auricles.

The walrus family stands apart and has only one species, actually, walruses. In terms of taxonomy, the walrus is an intermediate link between true seals and eared seals.

There are many differences between the walrus and the seal in comparison.

For example, walruses, like earless seals, do not have external ears. On top of that, walruses have their own distinctive feature: They climb onto the ice using tusks, which seals do not have at all. The very name of the animal, walrus, translates as “walking with teeth.”

Another striking difference is the size of these aquatic mammals. The walrus is much larger than the seal. It must be said that this mammal is the largest among pinnipeds Northern Hemisphere. The walrus is second in size only to elephant seal living in the Southern Hemisphere.

And, indeed, the dimensions of the semi-aquatic animal with tusks are impressive - males reach 4-4.5 m in length, and females 2.7-3.5 m. Walruses are also inferior in weight to their cavaliers: their average weight is 700-800 kg , while for males it is 1.6-1.9 tons.

The appearance of the walrus is similar to the appearance of eared seals, not real seals. In addition to everything, despite all its massiveness, the walrus is surprisingly flexible and active, just like fur seals or lions (again, eared ones)!

Walruses have many unique characteristics. The most noticeable thing is a pair of long tusks on the upper jaw. On average, their length in females is 30-40 cm, and in males - 40-50 (sometimes 80 cm!). For a walrus, this is an indispensable “tool”. With their tusks, these animals break frozen holes on the ice, use them when moving, and also plow the bottom of the sea in search of mollusks and other living creatures. Seals do not have such “help”.

It is known that these unusual mammals appeared on Earth about 25-30 million years ago, which by evolutionary standards did not happen very long ago. It is noteworthy that different families of pinnipeds had different ancestors. The animals of this order descended from different branches of predators: the family of eared seals and walruses descended from bears, and true seals from mustelids. As we can see, there is another significant difference. The mammal walrus is not only a larger animal, but also powerful, if only because it has more in common with a bear rather than with mustelids.

Both species have similar appearances in certain respects. In walruses and seals, due to their water image life, a streamlined body, almost no tail, the body is elongated, the limbs are flippers, there are no ears, and the fingers represent a swimming membrane. Only here there are differences: in walruses and the family of eared seals, the forelimbs are wide and large, and the hind limbs can bend at the heel joint. In other words, the semi-aquatic descendants of bears are able to move on the ground on their feet, and swim mainly relying on the strength of their front flippers.

In the mustelid line, on the contrary, the hind limbs are more developed, although they cannot bend forward. Seals move along the ground on their bellies, like caterpillars. Even when they are in the water, their movements are similar to those they make on the surface.

As for the dental system of both families, everything here is little differentiated. Only large fangs can be distinguished, as well as small sparse teeth located behind them. The purpose of such a structure is only to grab prey and not let it escape.

Another striking difference in behavior is the absence of noise and commotion in the rookeries. Walruses can roar, but they rarely do so, while the family of real seals likes to “chat.” An incessant hubbub is constantly heard from the seal rookeries!

The pharynx of these animals is interestingly designed. It has a pouch-like extension that functions as a float, which reduces the overall density of the entire body.

Another striking difference between the walrus is its rough and dense skin with very scanty fur (one might say rudiments). Only babies of this species have reddish fur; in adults it becomes so rare that walruses appear “bald.” This is another key difference from fur-covered seals.

Vibrissae (sensitive whiskers that help navigate in space) of a walrus are wide whiskers on the muzzle, very hard, up to 12 cm long. Interestingly, the thickness of an individual whisker is comparable in thickness to a wire (1.5-2 mm). You don't see anything like that in seals.

Walruses are brown in color; with age, “scuffs” appear: scars, scratches, pinkish spots. The family of true seals does not have this.

Walruses and seals are mammals that have differences in behavior. The former prefer a herd lifestyle: they live in groups of 10-20 individuals. There can also be huge rookeries numbering from 100 to 3000 walruses. Moreover, these mammals, unlike all other pinnipeds, lie closer friend to a friend, stay close so that in case of danger they can hide together in the water.

Walruses behave more friendly towards their own kind; even during the mating season, there are no deadly battles or stampedes of cubs, unlike seals. For whom both happen in every mating season. There is no hierarchy in the walrus herd; they are all equal.

The conclusion that can be drawn after comparing these two animals suggests itself. Yes, walruses are more powerful and larger animals, but both of them form a variety of one beautiful family of mammals. Therefore, the compilation of ratings can be left “overboard”. Both of them deserve human care and protection!