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March/April 2002 issue	In this issue Table of Contents Editor’s Notebook Inside Story Feature: Walrus À la carte Mosaic Reverberations

Grace under water | Walrus facts | Walrus anatomy
The walrus and the zookeeper | Archives

Airs sacs – air sacs under the throat in the walrus’ short, thick neck can inflate to allow the heavy animal to float vertically with its head above the water. They are also used as resonance chambers to produce bell-like sounds underwater.

Blubber – a generous layer of fat, up to 15 centimetres thick, insulates the walrus from the cold

Ears – the tiny ears have only a low wrinkle of skin on the outside, making the head very streamlined.

Forelimbs – unlike the hindlimbs, these are nearly as wide as they are long, but are similar in being thick and cartilaginous and having five digits. In swimming, they are sometimes used for paddling at slow speeds but are otherwise used for steering.

Hindlimbs – the hindlimbs are somewhat triangular in shape and are used for propulsion in its graceful swimming. The hindlimbs turn forward for walking on land, similar to sea lions.

Skin – the light brown, wrinkly skin seems to change colour depending on the temperature, because when the walrus is warm, blood flow to the skin surface increases to help cool the animal. This gives the walrus a reddish, mottled appearance. When cold, blood flow to the surface decreases, making the walrus look paler.

Tusks – composed of mostly dentine, the walrus’ tusks are very long, continuously growing canine teeth. They are not used to dig for food but rather help the walrus haul out onto ice or land. They are also serve as a symbol of dominance or rank.

Vibrissae – the thick, sensitive whiskers on the walrus’ muzzle assist in finding food.