"Odobenus rosmarus"
By: T. J. J.
Kingdom| Phylum| Class| Order| Family| Genius and Species
Fun Facts| Art and Poetry| Works Cited
This Kingdom does not contain the prokaryotes
The bodies of most animals (all except sponges) are made up of cells organized into tissues
Most animals are capable of complex and relatively rapid movement compared to plants and other organisms
The development of most animals is characterized by distinctive stages
Animal cells lack the rigid cell walls that characterize plant cells
Animals range in size from no more than a few cells to organisms weighing many tons
bilateral symmetry
segmented body, including segmented muscles
three germ layers and a well-developed coelom
single, dorsal, hollow nerve cord, usually with an enlarged anterior end (brain)
tail projecting beyond (posterior to) the anus at some stage of development
pharyngeal pouches present at some stage of development
Mammals hear sounds after they are transmitted from the outside world to their inner ears by a chain of three bones
Mammalian hair, made of a protein called keratin, serves at least four functions
Mammals feed their newborn young with milk
Teeth are replaced just once during an individual's life
Mammals can be found in all continents and seas
Separate sexes with the sex of an embryo being determined by the presence of a Y or 2 X chromosomes
The Carnivora is the result of a great radiation of mammals that ate meat
Carnivores tend to be medium-sized animals; too small and they couldn't find enough within their capacity to kill; too large and they wouldn't be able to satisfy their appetites
Vision and hearing are excellent in many carnivores, and the sense of smell is often remarkable.
All Carnivora have a simple stomach.
Marine carnivores are a special group, referred to as the "pinnipeds"
All pinnipeds are large, perhaps because water conducts heat well and large animals have a low surface area to body mass ratio, which minimizes heat loss due to conduction.
Males are huge (up to over 1200 kg), while females are somewhat smaller (up to over 850 kg).
Their bodies are heavy, appearing swollen.
Their bodies are heavy, appearing swollen.
Walruses have large, paddle-like forelimbs, which extend about 1/4 the length of the body.
The most conspicuous features of walruses are their tusks
The skin is thick and wrinkled, with underlying blubber that may reach 15 cm in thickness
Genius and Species: Odobenus rosmarus
Walruses
Walruses are among the strangest living mammals.
Their large tusks make them unlike any other marine animal.
These tusks are used in fighting as noted above, but they also serve other functions. Tusks can be used for cutting through ice, hooking over ice for stability while sleeping, and helping to pull the body out of the water.
Walruses sometimes use their heads to break through ice up to 20 cm thick.
Walruses swim at an average speed of 7 km/hr, but can reach maximum speeds of at least 35 km/hr.
Pacific walruses are a little larger than their Atlantic counterparts
Males possess a large baculum (penis bone), up to 63 cm in length
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W
is for water A is for Artic L is for large R is for really large teeth U is for under the ice S is for the sea |
Carling, Matt. Animal Diversity. 2004. The University of Michigan. 11
Feb. 2004
<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Odobenus_ros
marus.html>.