What is the name of the walrus tusk. How walrus tusks are harvested. Who are walruses

The walrus is a special animal. Everything is unique in it: dimensions, weight, habitats. The walrus is the only member of the walrus family. He hears perfectly, although he does not have auricles, he moves well, although he does not have legs. In addition, the walrus has one more interesting feature- powerful long fangs, which, by analogy with similar tusks of land animals, are often also called tusks.

There have been many theories as to why the walrus needs tusks. Some naturalists have suggested that fangs are a means of transportation. But if this were true, then the females, whose fangs are much shorter, would not be able to move around. Also, the assumption was refuted that with the help of fangs, walruses get their own food. Again, if this were the case, how would females and young males feed?

Researchers have already shown that walruses use whiskers, not tusks, to find food. With them, the animal “probes” the bottom and rolls the collected food into lumps. A walrus can have over five hundred vibrissae on its face, which wear out with age. It was then that, losing their sensitive "whiskers", walruses use fangs to dig up mollusks, crustaceans and worms. When a walrus is in captivity and there is no need for it to “plow” the bottom in search of food, its vibrissae reach a much greater length than that of wild relatives. While in nature these "whiskers" reach a length of about ten centimeters, in the zoo their length can be up to thirty centimeters.

Today it is known why the walrus needs fangs - to determine its "status". The longer and more powerful the fangs, the more numerous the male's harem. With the help of fangs, males find out who is stronger.

However, this does not at all cancel the use of fangs for other purposes. The walrus, if necessary, can use its fangs to climb onto the ice floe. Fang growth is a very long process. In some individuals, it can take more than fifteen years. With the help of powerful fangs, walruses can break the ice, but still their main purpose is to demonstrate to the opponent who is stronger.

Unfortunately, the authority of walrus tusks, so indisputable among relatives, has no effect on a person. It was because of the fangs that walruses were mercilessly exterminated. Moreover, the more powerful they were, the greater danger their owner was exposed. Products made from walrus tusks have always brought good profits. Today, the hunting of these animals is strictly regulated.

Walrus. 1. Large pinniped marine northern mammal with long fangs and moustache.
2. trans. A person who swims in open water in winter. Walrus section.

Why do walruses have fangs?

The walrus is an amazing animal. Everything in it is special: weight, size, habitat. He is the only representative of the walrus family. Having no auricles, he hears perfectly, having no legs, he moves perfectly. In addition, he has one more feature - long and powerful fangs, which are often called tusks (by analogy with the tusks of land animals).

There were many suggestions as to why the walrus needs tusks. In some descriptions of these majestic animals, naturalists assigned fangs the role of a means of transportation. If this were the case, then the females, whose fangs are much shorter, would be deprived of the ability to move. The assumption that walruses get their food with their tusks was also refuted. Again, if so, how do females and young males feed?

It has already been proven that not fangs, but vibrissae help walruses in search of food. With them, the animal “probes” the bottom, and with them rolls the collected food into lumps. On the muzzle of a walrus, there can be more than half a thousand vibrissae, which wear out with age. That's when, deprived of their sensitive "whiskers", walruses use fangs to dig up mollusks, worms and crustaceans. When a walrus has no need to "plow" the bottom in search of food (in captivity), its vibrissae can reach a much greater length than that of wild relatives. If in nature the length of the "whiskers" is about (or slightly more) ten centimeters, then in the zoo - up to thirty.

Today it is reliably known why the walrus needs tusks: they determine its “status”. The longer and more powerful they are, the more numerous the male has a harem. Fangs are powerful weapon, with which the walruses find out which of them is stronger. Not always fights for the favor of females do without blood. Particularly dramatic are fights in which fighters of approximately equal strength take part. This does not cancel the use of "tusks" for other purposes. If necessary, the walrus can use its tusks to climb onto the ice floe. Canine growth is a long process. In some males, it can last more than 15 years. Strong fangs help the walrus break the ice, with their help he makes a hole, but their main purpose is to show the opponent who is stronger.

Among the walruses there are individuals with a very rich diet. To the usual food - molluscs and crustaceans - they add birds and even seals. Here it is no longer necessary to wonder why the walrus needs fangs. Everything is clear: in order to kill prey. The fangs of such walruses are sharper and thinner than those of ordinary males, and they usually live apart from others. This is not about those walruses that change their menu due to a temporary lack of food, but about real robbers that instill fear in other large animals, including seals. The latter, by the way, are trying to leave the habitat of such a cruel hunter.

Unfortunately, the authority of walrus tusks, so indisputable among relatives, has no effect on a person. Walruses were mercilessly exterminated precisely because of their fangs. The more powerful they were, the more danger their owner was exposed to. The sale of walrus tusk products has always been profitable business. Now walrus hunting is strictly regulated. In Russia, it is allowed only for the indigenous peoples of the north (Yakutia and Chukotka), who traditionally use the meat and fat of these animals, and some walrus subspecies are generally listed in the Red Book of Russia.

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November 24 is International Walrus Day. The purpose of this holiday is to draw public attention to the problems of restoring the population of these pinniped giants. Despite the fact that walrus hunting is strictly regulated today, the issue of the extinction of these mammals still does not lose its urgency.

The walrus population has not yet recovered from that big hunt, which arranged for them in late XIX- at the beginning of the twentieth century. And they killed these Arctic animals, including for the sake of their huge fangs. They are significantly stronger than elephant tusks and are ideal for various crafts and souvenirs. These two teeth in mature individuals can reach a length of 1 m and weigh up to 5.4 kg.

On Walrus Day, AiF.ru talks about how these huge pinnipeds use their fangs.

Sword

Despite its impressive appearance, the walrus has many dangerous enemies - it has to defend itself from polar bears and killer whales. Yes, and relatives also often strive to sort things out by force, when we are talking about the struggle for territory or the favor of the female. For all these cases, the walrus has one weighty argument - its fangs. The fights in which these mammals take part sometimes even end in the death of one of the "duelists".

Ice ax

Due to their large body weight, it can be quite difficult for walruses to get out of the water to the shore. To climb onto a slippery ice floe, the walrus can use its fangs - it clings to the edge of the hole and, holding on to it, pushes itself onto the shore. He also makes wormwood in the ice with tusks to breathe while in the water.

Fork

The main food of walruses is mollusks and crustaceans, which they get on seabed. With the help of their sensitive whiskers, the animals look for shells or worms, roll the collected food into lumps, and then suck it up. With age, walrus vibrissae wear out, so walruses have to use their fangs to dig up small organisms.

power attribute

The size of the tusks of the male walrus is of great importance for his relatives. Fangs determine his "status": whoever has them is larger, he is more important. As a rule, older individuals have more of them, so their owners enjoy unquestioned authority among the pack. Males with the most powerful fangs usually boast the most numerous harem.