Laptev Walrus

The Laptev Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus laptevi) is more of an idea than an actual species. It is a source of conflict in the scientific world. Many believe that it shouldn't exist. In the world, there are about 200,000 Pacific walruses. Scientists began noticing, however, that a select population of these Pacific walruses was staying around the area of the Laptev Sea. Some wanted to categorize this population as a separate species, others didn't. The problem still exists today, i.e., nobody really knows if Laptev walruses are a species of their own, or just a bunch of Pacific walruses that hang out in the Laptev sea.