It is natural for conflict to arise, including in the animal kingdom, which begs the question: Who would win in a fight between a walrus and an elephant seal?
Walruses and elephant seals are docile species by nature with no real reason to fight, so a battle between the two is not common.
Furthermore, though walruses and seals are similar species, there are distinctions that could point to an obvious winner in a battle between these two worthy opponents.
Who would win in a fight a walrus or an elephant seal?
These animals would likely not fight one another, but many argue that the walrus would likely win. Walruses have tusks to defend themselves, and males often weigh in at over 3,000 pounds. Elephant seals are massive (males weigh around 3,700 pounds) with very sharp, jagged teeth.
Who Would Win Between a Walrus and an Elephant Seal
The jury is out on who would win, but many have speculated that the walrus may win a fight by virtue of its tusks.
Others assert that the more aggressive nature and size of the Elephant seal make it the likely victor.
Additionally, one would need to consider the venue, as an Elephant seal is able to get around on land easier than a walrus.
Walruses and Seals
Walruses, seals, and sea lions are members of the family of pinnipeds, that is, a group of carnivorous and aquatic mammals.
While walruses and seals are both fairly docile breeds, Elephant seals are considered to be a bit more aggressive than the walrus — though it is unlikely that the two would ever get into a physical fight with one another.
The walrus has large flippers and tusks, found widely in the Arctic Ocean and subarctic seas of the Northern Hemisphere.
The only member of the sub-family or genus, Odobenus, is the walrus. In this group, you will find two subspecies, the Pacific Walrus and the Atlantic Walrus.
Elephant seals are large, without ears, and were nearly extinct about one hundred years ago. The numbers have increased and males of the species often outweigh walruses significantly.
Bull Elephant seals are massive, often seven times heavier than a bear and 15 times heavier than a tiger.
The Walrus
There are two types of walruses, the Pacific and Atlantic, and the Atlantic Walrus tends to typically weigh around 15% less than its Pacific counterpart.
Adult Pacific males can weigh more than 3,000 pounds- and in the family of pinnipeds, they are the largest member with the exception of the Elephant seal.
Walruses prefer shallow ocean habitats, eating mollusks. The walrus lives a long life by comparison and is considered friendly and docile.
Despite this, they were hunted aggressively throughout the 18th and 19th centuries for their blubber and ivory. The skin of the walrus is used for rope, while the tusks continue to be coveted for ivory.
The walrus is still hunted in some indigenous Arctic cultures- legally and illegally — for its meat and other commodities.
Though docile, the adult male walruses do fight one another to gain dominance over peers during mating season. They are able to emit a mating call as the males swim around and near the females of their group.
An Elephant Seal
The Elephant Seal is aptly named — if you ever see one, you will first notice the trunk-like nose that hangs from the face of these huge seals. They use their nose to make a loud roar, typically during mating rituals.
They have flippers, no ears, and resemble most other large seals with the exception of their size and distinctive nose.
The males have been known to grow up to 14 feet long, while the females of the species typically max out at around 11 feet long. Some males have tipped the scale at nearly 5,000 pounds!
Yet it is more typical for the male seal to weigh between 1,500 and 3,700 pounds, on average.
The adult Elephant seal is hairless, dotted in colors of pink, taupe, and ivory, with big, black eyes. Baby Elephant seals, or pups, are typically black, turning to a silver color when they molt.
Elephant seals are faster on land than other members of the family and can be slightly more aggressive than a walrus.
Frequently Asked Questions about Who Would Win in a Fight between a Walrus and an Elephant Seal
Are seals and walruses related?
Seals, walruses, and sea lions are members of the same genus, Pinnipedia, but from 3 distinct families — the walruses (Odobenidae), the seals (Phocidae), and the sea lions (otaridos).
Is a walrus or a sea lion bigger?
The Stellar Sea lion is the biggest in its otaridos family of sea lions, weighing in at around 2,200 pounds. Some male walruses top the scale at over 3,000 pounds.
How do walrus and a seal differ?
One obvious difference is that Walruses are the only member of the Pinnipedia family that has tusks. Both male and female walruses have them.
Conclusion
Who do you think would win in a fight between an Elephant Seal and a Walrus?
Opinions may differ and there are numerous variables that could impact the results, but most would agree that it would be a brutal battle, for sure.