Why is the walrus nicknamed “tooth walker”?

The walrus’s two tusks—which are really two long, sharp teeth—aid the cold-water creature in battling polar bears, fending off other walruses, and walking around the bottom of the ocean while searching for its favorite food, clams. The “tooth walker” temporarily anchors itself to the bottom of the ocean by pushing its tusks into the muddy sand, where it can look for food. It then pulls its tusks out, moves on, and repeats the process.

Walruses have huge tusks, long teeth that are useful for defending their territory against polar bears and other walruses.