The anatomy and physiology behind Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus and Odobenus rosmarus divergens adaptations
Korina M. Ramirez
November 5, 2015
The only extant lineage of pinnipeds under the genus Odobenus are the walruses. This genus includes two widely accepted species Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus, the Atlantic walrus, and Odobenus rosmarus divergens, the Pacific walrus. The environment these animals live in are harsh and require quite the adaptations in order to adjust due to many issues such as global warming. How do these animals anatomically and physiologically mature which will lead to their next adaptation? By examining characteristics such as skeletal structures as well as specialized systems within both species conclusions can be made as to what role these characteristics play for those remaining in …show more content…
These characteristics are vital as the animal must dive in order to reach its food source. The robust and thickness is a much needed adaption as the arctic waters are cold and the depths at which are necessary to reach the benthic invertebrates on which it feeds on. This adaptation was quite useful and as we can see from many different experiments the depths at which Odobenus dives at and how they maneuver through the water is aided well by their body shape and skeletal structure including their many lost or fused vertebrae. The modification that carries the most significant importance has to be their tusks. Their tusks give the walrus the capability to stir up all of which is in the substrate below and also use their modified sucking disc. Walruses have also been reported starting to use their tusks like ice picks. They will come up for air and stick their teeth in the ice in order to hold on and rest meanwhile they catch their breath. Another very important part in which changes are first observed when changes need to be made physically are seen in the
Korina M. Ramirez
November 5, 2015
The only extant lineage of pinnipeds under the genus Odobenus are the walruses. This genus includes two widely accepted species Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus, the Atlantic walrus, and Odobenus rosmarus divergens, the Pacific walrus. The environment these animals live in are harsh and require quite the adaptations in order to adjust due to many issues such as global warming. How do these animals anatomically and physiologically mature which will lead to their next adaptation? By examining characteristics such as skeletal structures as well as specialized systems within both species conclusions can be made as to what role these characteristics play for those remaining in …show more content…
These characteristics are vital as the animal must dive in order to reach its food source. The robust and thickness is a much needed adaption as the arctic waters are cold and the depths at which are necessary to reach the benthic invertebrates on which it feeds on. This adaptation was quite useful and as we can see from many different experiments the depths at which Odobenus dives at and how they maneuver through the water is aided well by their body shape and skeletal structure including their many lost or fused vertebrae. The modification that carries the most significant importance has to be their tusks. Their tusks give the walrus the capability to stir up all of which is in the substrate below and also use their modified sucking disc. Walruses have also been reported starting to use their tusks like ice picks. They will come up for air and stick their teeth in the ice in order to hold on and rest meanwhile they catch their breath. Another very important part in which changes are first observed when changes need to be made physically are seen in the