What Do Walrus Whiskers Feel Like? #shorts

#kpassionate #walrus #shorts
Why do these walruses have metal caps on their tusks? I answer that question and more in my ultimate guide to walruses, which you can watch here: https://youtu.be/Z3KmiKbq7Jo

Each walrus whisker, scientifically known as vibrissae, has nerve endings and a blood supply. This makes them some of the most evolved sensory tools in the world. Capable of differentiating tiny objects as small as 2 millimeters wide. That’s equivalent to the tip of a mechanical pencil. As you can see, each vibrissae also has unique muscle structures that allow them to move independently. Walruses use these vibrissae to sift through the seafloor in search of food.

This leads me to a question I get all the time “what do their whiskers feel like?” Walrus vibrissae feels like pasta. Uncooked, hard pasta. And the muscles in their face that allow them to move this uncooked pasta around… well, it’s one of my favorite things about them. The muscles around their face really sets them apart from other animals. They are capable of a wide range of facial expressions and vocalizations like growls, roars, clicks, and they can even whistle.

The walruses in this video are named Balzak and Lakina. They were born at the Aquarium du Quebec in 2016 and I was one of the lucky marine biologists with the privilege to work with them! During that time, these walruses participated in several important research projects into the metabolism of juvenile walruses and this information was used to enact laws and policies aimed at protecting their cousins in the wild.

Recently, Lakina and Balzak have moved to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium where I now have the opportunity to work with them again after several years. They look great and I can't wait to see more of them in the near future!

The postings on this site are my own and don’t necessarily represent Metro Parks Tacoma’s positions, strategies, or opinions.

Music by Cody Martin - soundstripe.com

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