Walrus

Hello, I am a walrus. I live in the very chilly Arctic where there is lots of ice and cold water. My body is big and strong, which helps me stay warm. The most famous thing about me is my long, pointy tusks. They might look a little funny, but they aren't just for show. My tusks are actually very special teeth that grow long, and I use them to help me every single day.

My tusks are like super tools that are attached to me. When I swim in the ocean and want to rest on the slippery ice, it can be hard to climb up. I use my tusks like strong hooks to pull my whole body right out of the water and onto the ice floes. I also have something else that helps me: my tickly whiskers. They are super sensitive. When I am hunting for food, I dive down to the dark ocean floor. My whiskers brush along the sand and help me feel for yummy clams and other shellfish to eat. They help me find my dinner in the dark.

I love to be with my friends and my family. A big group of us is called a herd. We all huddle close together on the ice to share our warmth and stay safe from the cold. It feels like a big, cozy cuddle. We all help each other in our ocean home. When I dig on the seafloor for my food, I stir up the bottom. This brings up little bits of food, or nutrients, for the smaller sea animals to eat. By finding my lunch, I help my neighbors find theirs, too.