Carnivorous Walrus and Some Arctic Zoonoses

Reviews reports of walrus feeding on seal or whale carrion, or killing them for food. Normally, bottom feeders (benthic invertebrates) in shallow, continental waters, walrus eat mammals when/where invertebrates are unobtainable. The (rare) rogue walrus, habitually carnivorous, has a distinctive exte...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:ARCTIC
Main Author: Fay, Francis H.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: The Arctic Institute of North America 1960
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/66741
Description
Summary:Reviews reports of walrus feeding on seal or whale carrion, or killing them for food. Normally, bottom feeders (benthic invertebrates) in shallow, continental waters, walrus eat mammals when/where invertebrates are unobtainable. The (rare) rogue walrus, habitually carnivorous, has a distinctive external appearance. Some catch data are given with estimates of the carnivores, also those with Trichinella infection. The possibility is aired that such animals like the polar bear, have a high vitamin A content in their liver, or may be a source of trichinosis transmissible to man. Comments by T. H. Manning in Arctic, Mar. 1961, p. 76-77.