What is a narwhal?
A narwhal is a medium-sized, toothed whale that is only found in Arctic waters. Pod of narwhals, northern Canada, August 2005. Image courtesy of Kristin Laidre. Download image (jpg, 80 KB). The narwhal is an odontocete or toothed whale, but is different from all other toothed whales in that it has no teeth in its mouth.
How many narwhals are in a pod?
Narwhal pods generally consist of two to ten individuals, but may occur in large dispersed groups of hundreds to thousands of individuals. Smaller groups occur during winter due to the formation of sea ice, and larger groups occur during summer due to open water. Groups may be segregated by age and sex.
Can a narwhal live with a pod of beluga whales?
Marine biologists in Quebec have had the pleasure of studying this fascinating phenomenon: a narwhal traveling, eating, and living with a pod of young male beluga whales as they cruise down the province’s famous river. Drone footage indicates this unique black sheep is a male, and well-fed, indicating that he’s been adopted into the pod.
What is the purpose of a narwhal's tusk?
But in terms of the biology of the animal, the tusk is actually used for social structure, to establish dominance hierarchies and ranks of males within narwhal pods. Narwhals have a black and white mottled skin pattern and are white underneath. This coloration contributed to their name.
How many narwhals are in a pod?
Narwhal pods generally consist of two to ten individuals, but may occur in large dispersed groups of hundreds to thousands of individuals. Smaller groups occur during winter due to the formation of sea ice, and larger groups occur during summer due to open water.
Do narwhals have pods?
Like many other whales, narwhals travel in groups. Their pods average 15-20 whales. Sometimes multiple pods will meet in social groups of up to 100 whales, although it is hard to get exact numbers.
Why do narwhals travel in pods?
Narwhals live in groups called pods. They travel together in pods of 15-20 to help keep them safe from predators, including killer whales, polar bears and walruses. The Inuit hunt narwhals for food and their tusks.
Do narwhals travel in pods?
Narwhals can travel in small pods that can be 2-3 animals as well as pods that are several hundreds of whales. Pod sizes range widely and can consist of both males and females, or all-female or all-male pods.
What kills a narwhal?
Due to its large size and extreme northern habitat, the narwhal has only a few natural predators in the wild such as orcas, sharks, and humans. Less commonly it is hunted by polar bears and walruses, which have been known to kill narwhals that become trapped in shallow pools of water near the ice, unable to move.
Do narwhals still exist 2022?
There are estimated to be more than 100,000 narwhals alive today, which puts their extinction risk in the category of least concern.
Are narwhals friendly to humans?
Even though narwhals have been known to stun fish with their tusks, they have never been reported to assault people.
Can you eat narwhal?
Narwhals have been extensively hunted the same way as other sea mammals, such as seals and whales, for their large quantities of fat. Almost all parts of the narwhal, meat, skin, blubber and organs are consumed. Muktuk, the name for raw skin and blubber, is considered a delicacy.
Why do whales stick together in a pod?
They work together to isolate, tire out and immobilize their prey and then share their food with other family or pod members. At times these dolphins may separate from their pod or join another pod to look for food, but will return to their pod once they're done.
Why do zoos not have narwhals?
Narwhal. Known as the unicorns of the sea for their long, narrow tusks, narwhals are elusive. They're skittish and hunt deep in the water. “Unlike other whales, narwhals—which can live more than 100 years—die shortly in captivity, greatly reducing the opportunity to study them,” according to the Smithsonian.
Do narwhals use their horn to break ice?
Some researchers have also theorized that narwhals might use their tusk to break through sea ice or fend off other predators, such as polar bears and orca whales. The tusk is not just an extension of tooth-like material. It is filled with sensitive pulp for nearly the entire length.
Do narwhal horns grow back?
The tusk is a canine tooth that protrudes through the lip and continuously grows throughout their lives reaching up to 10 ft / 3.5 m.
What are 3 interesting facts about narwhals?
Unlike some whale species that migrate, narwhals spend their lives in the Arctic waters of Canada, Greenland, Norway and Russia.Narwhal live up to 50 years. ... Narwhal change colour with age. ... Their tusks are actually a tooth. ... Narwhal's distinctive tusk are usually found on males. ... Tusks can grow as long as 10 ft.More items...
Do all whales live in pods?
Whales generally stay in pods of two to three (female, calf, and escort), but can be seen in larger groups in breeding areas when males congregate to compete for females—called a “competition pod.” Each individual whale has a tail, or fluke, as unique as a fingerprint.
Do narwhals actually have horns?
Scientists once thought that narwhal tusks were used for fighting, but narwhals actually rub their horns against each other for cleaning. These tusks, which can grow to a staggering nine feet, aren't as stiff as they may seem.
Is a narwhal a fish or a whale?
A narwhal is a medium-sized, toothed whale that is only found in Arctic waters.
What is a narwhal's tooth?
Male narwhals have a tooth that grows into a long clockwise-spiraled tusk, resembling a unicorn horn. Narwhals, like all marine mammals, are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
How many teeth do narwhals have?
The tusk of the narwhal is its most unique and distinctive feature, which often leads to comparisons to the resemblance of “unicorns.” Narwhals have two teeth in the upper jaw. These teeth usually remain embedded in the upper jawbone of females. When males reach the age of two or three years, the left tooth normally grows out through the front of the head. The tusk is spiraled to the left and may grow up to 8.9 feet long. Occasionally, females with a tusk and males with two tusks have been documented. The primary function of the narwhal tusk is for competition between males and attractiveness for females, but it may also be used as a sensory tool for detecting changes in the environment as well as for capturing prey.
Where do narwhals live?
Narwhals occur in the Arctic Ocean. They generally occur in the Atlantic sector of the Arctic Ocean, with few records in the Pacific sector (i.e., western Russia to Alaska to western Canada). Their main distribution in the Arctic Ocean includes from the central Canada (Peel Sound and northern Hudson Bay) to Greenland to eastern Russia. Narwhals annually migrate from pack ice in the winter using cracks or holes, to inshore waters in the spring, to coastal waters in the summer following the ice, to open waters in the fall.
How big are narwhals?
Older individuals have tips that curl upwards on the flukes. Adult females can reach lengths up to 13.8 feet and 2,204 pounds and adult males can reach lengths up to 15.7 feet and 3,527.4 pounds.
What color is a narwhal's skin?
Young narwhals are uniformly brownish-gray to ray. As the animals get older, their skin darkens to black and develops white mottling, which gives them a spotted appearance. Narwhals continue to lighten as they become adults until their skin appears white with black mottling on the head, flippers, dorsal ridge, and flukes.
How deep do narwhals dive?
Narwhal’s feed at or near the ocean bottom in deep water, and are known to dive down to depths of 3,937 feet for up to 25 minutes. They create suction using their mouth to capture prey. Narwhal’s diet consists of medium to large-size Arctic fish (e.g., Arctic cod, polar cod, and turbot), squid, and shrimp.
What is the name of the act that protects narwhals?
Narwhals, like all marine mammals, are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
What is the narwhal?
The narwhal is the unicorn of the sea, a pale-colored porpoise found in Arctic coastal waters and rivers.
What are narwhals related to?
Narwhals are related to bottlenose dolphins, belugas, harbor porpoises, and orcas. Like some other porpoises, they travel in groups and feed on fish, shrimp, squid, and other aquatic fare. They are often sighted swimming in groups of 15 to 20, but gatherings of hundreds—or even several thousands—of narwhals have been reported. Sometimes these groups become trapped by shifting pack ice and fall victim to Inuit hunters, polar bears, or walruses.
Why do tusked animals use their overgrown teeth?
These tusked animals use their overgrown teeth as multi-purpose tools to survive in their habitats.
How long is a narwhal's tusk?
The tusk is actually one of two teeth in the upper jaw and only reaches full length (over 6 feet/2 m) in sexually mature males. It is used to attract females and to fight off other males. In males, the tusk begins to form when they are about one year old. Adult narwhals reach lengths (not including the tusk) of around 14-15 feet (4 m).
Where do narwhals live?
Narwhals are restricted to the Arctic Ocean and adjacent waters, most significantly on the Atlantic side. They feed in deep waters near the ice edge, where they eat large fishes and squids that live on or near the bottom; scientists report that they prefer cods and flatfishes. Killer whales and polar bears have been known to attack and eat Narwhals, and at least one Greenland shark has been captured with narwhal remains in its stomach, but it remains unclear if it hunted or scavenged that meal. When hunting narwhals, polar bears use incredible strength to pull them onto the surface of the ice.
What are narwhal tusks used for?
4. Narwhal tusks are used to establish dominance among males in the pod.
What is the scientific name for narwhals?
7. The scientific name for narwhals, Monodon Monoceros, means “one tooth, one horn.” 2
Why are we restoring the world's wild fish populations?
We are restoring the world’s wild fish populations to serve as a sustainable source of protein for people.
Is a narwhal a beluga?
The narwhal is one of just two species in the “ white whales” family , the other being the beluga . As they are closely related and do not have the characteristic tusk of the males, juvenile and female narwhals can be incorrectly identified as belugas. Narwhals typically have more dark coloration, however, than their solid white cousins.
Is the narwhal endangered?
These whales are hunted, legally, by the indigenous peoples of Greenland and northern Canada, but this ongoing hunt is not generally thought to threaten the species. Climate change is likely a more significant threat to narwhal populations, though further research is necessary before accurate predictions can be made.
What are the predators of narwhals?
Major predators are polar bears, which attack at breathing holes mainly for young narwhals, Greenland sharks, and walruses. Killer whales (orcas) group together to overwhelm narwhal pods in the shallow water of enclosed bays, in one case killing dozens of narwhals in a single attack. To escape predators such as orcas, narwhals may use prolonged submergence to hide under ice floes rather than relying on speed.
How do narwhals communicate?
As most toothed whales, narwhals use sound to navigate and hunt for food. Narwhals primarily vocalize through "clicks", "whistles" and "knocks", created by air movement between chambers near the blow-hole. These sounds are reflected off the sloping front of the skull and focused by the animal's melon, which can be controlled by musculature. Echolocation clicks are primarily produced for prey detection, and for locating obstacles at short distances. It is possible that individual "bangs" are capable of disorienting or incapacitating prey, making them easier to hunt, but this has not been verified. They also emit tonal signals, such as whistles and pulsed calls, that are believed to have a communication function. The calls recorded from the same herd are more similar than calls from different herds, suggesting the possibility of group or individual-specific calls in narwhals. Narwhals may also adjust the duration and the pitch of their pulsed calls to maximize sound propagation in varying acoustic environments Other sounds produced by narwhals include trumpeting and squeaking door sounds. The narwhal vocal repertoire is similar to that of the closely related beluga, with comparable whistle frequency ranges, whistle duration, and repetition rates of pulse calls, however beluga whistles may have a higher frequency range and more diversified whistle contours.
What is the scientific name of a narwhal?
The scientific name, Monodon monoceros, is derived from the Greek: "one-tooth one-horn". The narwhal is most closely related to the beluga whale. Together, these two species comprise the only extant members of the family Monodontidae, sometimes referred to as the "white whales".
How many genes are in the narwhal genome?
The genome consists of 37.9% repetitive elements and encodes 21,785 protein -coding genes (similar to many other mammals ). The genome will help to place the narwhal both into the evolutionary context of other whales but also will help to understand the evolution and embryonic development of features such as the striking tusk and its sexual dimorphism.
What is the name of the narwhal?
The scientific name, Monodon monoceros, is derived from the Greek: "one-tooth one-horn".
Why do narwhals hide under ice floes?
To escape predators such as orcas , narwhals may use prolonged submergence to hide under ice floes rather than relying on speed. Beluga and narwhal catches. Humans hunt narwhals, often selling commercially the skin, carved veterbrae, teeth and tusk, while eating the meat, or feeding it to dogs.
How long is a narwhal's tusk?
The tusk grows throughout life, reaching a length of about 1.5 to 3.1 m (4.9 to 10.2 ft).
How do narwhals breathe?
Breathing holes are created through sheets of ice with thrusts of their thick head, sometimes by several of them at the same time. They are very vocal, squeaking and clicking as they travel. Like many cetaceans, narwhals slap their flippers on the water as they surface, raising their tusks and heads out of the water.
How many narwhals are there in the world?
According to the IUCN Red List, the global narwhal population size is around 80,000 individuals, including estimates for this species in specific regions: Canadian High Arctic - 70,000 animals; northern Hudson Bay - 3,500 animals; West Greenland - over 2,000 animals; East Greenland – fewer than 1,000 animals. The narwhal population is currently classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List.
Why are narwhals called unicorns?
Due to the animal's large ivory tusks, they are known as unicorns of the sea. Narwhal tusks are thought to play a role in mating, as some males have been seen crossing tusks, like fencing behavior, which may serve to display youthfulness, social status or strength among narwhals.
How deep is a narwhal?
The narwhal (minus the tusk) is approximately the same size as an adult beluga whale. Reaching depths of more than 5,000 ft, narwhals are one of the deepest divers of all marine mammals. The animal's famous tusk is a very long tooth, the largest ever recorded being over 2.5 meters long.
What do narwhals eat?
Narwhals eat a varied diet of squid, fish and shrimp.
Where do narwhals live?
The narwhal is scattered throughout Arctic waters and the North Atlantic Ocean. Most of them are found in Greenland and the eastern part of the Canadian Arctic Ocean. They forage at any depth, not going far from the pack ice in the Arctic Ocean.
How long is a tusk?
The animal's famous tusk is a very long tooth, the largest ever recorded being over 2.5 meters long.
What are some interesting facts about narwhals?
Interesting Facts About the Narwhal 1 The “Horn” Isn’t a Horn at All! – True horns are made of keratin with a bony center, but a narwhal’s horn is actually a modified tooth. This makes the “horn” a tusk! The tusk is a canine tooth that juts straight through the upper lip. 2 The Cost of Sound – Narwhals, along with many other marine mammal species, communicate and navigate using sound. Unfortunately, the more ships and aquatic equipment there are in the ocean, the more sound there is as well. This increase in sound can interfere with marine mammals’ ability to hear one another, and to navigate using echolocation. 3 Graying with Age – The color of a narwhal’s skin changes as it gets older. The babies start out a blue/gray color, and become darker as they reach sexual maturity. Adults are covered heavily with dark spots, and become whiter and whiter the older they get. The elderly are almost entirely white. 4 Synchronized Swimming – Groups of narwhals travel and feed together. Pods are frequently between 15-20 animals, but gatherings of hundreds of individuals have been spotted. Some sightings of several thousand animals have even been reported!
What are narwhals used for?
These marine mammals are still legally harvested by Inuit tribes, which use all parts of the animal for sustenance . Narwhal skin is one of the few sources of vitamin C available to Inuit people.
What is a tusk in a narwhal?
The tusk is a canine tooth that juts straight through the upper lip. The Cost of Sound – Narwhals, along with many other marine mammal species, communicate and navigate using sound. Unfortunately, the more ships and aquatic equipment there are in the ocean, the more sound there is as well.
How did the Inuit get their tusk?
According to Inuit legend, the creature’s tusk was created by the demise of a female hunter. The hunter wore her hair in a long braid, and was pulled into the ocean by a harpooned narwhal. Legend has it that the woman turned into a narwhal, and her long, twisted, braid become the animal’s classic tusk.
How many people do narwhals travel in?
Behavior of the Narwhal. Narwhals travel in groups of anywhere from 10-20 individuals. These groups can vary in their social structure, from solely females and young, to adolescent males and “bulls.”. These adult male bulls will frequently use their tusks to determine social status.
What color are narwhal babies?
The babies start out a blue/gray color, and become darker as they reach sexual maturity. Adults are covered heavily with dark spots, and become whiter and whiter the older they get. The elderly are almost entirely white. Synchronized Swimming – Groups of narwhals travel and feed together.
How do narwhals detect chemical changes?
Research has shown that these elusive marine animals can detect chemical changes in the water around them using their tusks. Because the tusk is a tooth, it contains very sensitive nerve endings. These nerve endings have the ability to detect changes in the chemical composition of the water, including salt concentrations. They have also been seen using their tusks to “smack” fish, effectively stunning them. It is apparent that a narwhal’s tusk serves multiple functions to the animal.
Overview
The narwhal, also known as a narwhale (Monodon monoceros), is a medium-sized toothed whale that possesses a large "tusk" from a protruding canine tooth. It lives year-round in the Arctic waters around Greenland, Canada and Russia. It is one of two living species of whale in the family Monodontidae, along with the beluga whale, and the only species in the genus Monodon. The narwhal males …
Taxonomy and etymology
The narwhal was one of many species originally described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. Its name is derived from the Old Norse word nár, meaning "corpse", in reference to the animal's greyish, mottled pigmentation, like that of a drowned sailor and its summertime habit of lying still at or near the surface of the sea (called "logging"). The scientific name, Mo…
Description
Narwhals are medium-sized whales and are around the same size as beluga whales. Total length in both sexes, excluding the tusk of the male, can range from 3.95 to 5.5 m (13 to 18 ft). Males, at an average length of 4.1 m (13.5 ft), are slightly larger than females, with an average length of 3.5 m (11.5 ft). Typical adult body weight ranges from 800 to 1,600 kg (1,760 to 3,530 lb). Male narwh…
Genome
A 2.3 GB genome sequence has been assembled from multiple Illumina libraries. The genome consists of 37.9% repetitive elements and encodes 21,785 protein-coding genes (similar to many other mammals). The genome will help to place the narwhal both into the evolutionary context of other whales but also will help to understand the evolution and embryonic development of features such as the striking tusk and its sexual dimorphism.
Distribution
The narwhal is found predominantly in the Atlantic and Russian areas of the Arctic Ocean. Individuals are commonly recorded in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, such as in the northern part of Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, Baffin Bay; off the east coast of Greenland; and in a strip running east from the northern end of Greenland round to eastern Russia (170° East). Land in this str…
Behaviour
Narwhals normally congregate in groups of about five to ten and sometimes up to 20 individuals outside the summer. Groups may be "nurseries" with only females and young, or can contain only post-dispersal juveniles or adult males ("bulls"), but mixed groups can occur at any time of year. In the summer, several groups come together, forming larger aggregations which can contain from 500 to over 1000 individuals.
Conservation issues
Narwhals are one of many mammals that are being threatened by human actions. Estimates of the world population of narwhals range from around 50,000 (from 1996) to around 170,000 (compilation of various sub-population estimates from the years 2000–2017). They are considered to be near threatened and several sub-populations have evidence of decline. In an effort t…
Cultural depictions
In Inuit legend, the narwhal's tusk was created when a woman with a harpoon rope tied around her waist was dragged into the ocean after the harpoon had struck a large narwhal. She was transformed into a narwhal and her hair, which she was wearing in a twisted knot, became the characteristic spiral narwhal tusk.