Narwal

Their large ivory tusk which is a protruding canine tooth of the male makes them The ‘unicorns of the sea’

Cruising the frozen Arctic ocean, narwhal has a mottled pattern, with blackish-brown spots on a white background, but older males can be almost entirely white. However, a newborn is blotchy gray and becomes whiter with age. The long tusk or canine tooth projects from the left side of the upper jaw, then through the lip, and forms a helix spiral.

There have been speculations about the function of the tusk including acting as a weapon, as an acoustic organ, as a secondary sex character, and for opening breathing holes in the ice. Their diet consists of shrimp, squid, and fishes such as Arctic cod. They are hunted for their meat, skin, and tusks that can be used for carvings; however, pollution from mining and oil extraction poses a greater threat.

Distribution

Country
Population est.
Status
Year
Comments
Arctic Ocean
2017
Atlantic Ocean
2017
Chukchi Sea
2017
Bering Sea
2017
Canada
2017
Seasonality Uncertain
Germany
2017
Seasonality Uncertain
Greenland
2017
Iceland
2017
Seasonality Uncertain
Netherlands
2017
Seasonality Uncertain
Norway
2017
Seasonality Uncertain
Russia
2017
Svalbard
2017
United Kingdom
2017
Seasonality Uncertain
United States
2017
Seasonality Uncertain

Did you know?

  • The only whales that have tusks, used to establish dominance in breeding season.
  • Rarely (1 in 500 approx), specimens are found with two tusks.
  • They have no dorsal fin.
  • Narwals are hunted by orcas (killer whales) and polar bears.

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Terrestrial / Aquatic

Altricial / Precocial

Polygamous / Monogamous

Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd / Group

Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

Migratory: Yes / No

Domesticated: Yes / No

Dangerous: Yes / No