a b c Lowry, L; Laidre, K; Reeves, R (2017). " Monodon monoceros". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T13704A50367651.en. They have compressible rib cages which can be squeezed without harming them when swimming at huge depths. They also have twice the concentration of oxygen-binding myoglobin in their muscles as seals which allow them to swim at 1 meter per second underwater for 20mins, without needing a breath. 6 13. The origin of the name narwhal comes from the Icelandic words ‘nar’, meaning ‘corpse’ (in reference to its pale white color), and hvalr (whale). a b c Waddell, Dave (16 May 2017). "Drone-shot video may have just solved 400-year debate over what narwhal tusks are used for". National Post . Retrieved 17 May 2017. 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 tusk and its sexual dimorphism. [35] Distribution Narwhals in the Creswell Bay at Somerset Island Narwhals tend to travel in groups of 15 to 20, though larger gatherings of hundreds or even thousands of individuals have been observed. They use sound to communicate with each other, as well as to navigate their surroundings, hunt, and see.

Narwhals are part of an Arctic environment that is rapidly changing. The region is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world – 1.35 degrees Fahrenheit (0.75 degrees C) in the last decade alone. By comparison, it’s taken the Earth as a whole the past 137 years to warm by nearly the same amount, 1.4 degrees F (0.8 degrees C). The most conspicuous characteristic of the male narwhal is a single long tusk, which is in fact a canine tooth [19] [20] that projects from the left side of the upper jaw, through the lip and forms a left-handed helical spiral. The tusk grows throughout life, reaching a length of about 1.5 to 3.1m (4.9 to 10.2ft). It is hollow and weighs around 10kg (22lb). About one in 500 males has two tusks, occurring when the right canine also grows out through the lip. Only about 15 per cent of females grow a tusk, [21] which typically is smaller than a male tusk, with a less noticeable spiral. [22] [23] [24] There is only one known case of a female growing a second tusk; the specimen (right) was collected in 1684. [25] Martin Nweeia, a Connecticut dentist and a clinical instructor at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, has been traveling to the Arctic for fourteen years to study narwhals, and, in particular, their tusks. He’s given some scientific talks about his research over the years and published some details in book chapters. But now he and a team of colleagues from Harvard, the Smithsonian, the University of Minnesota, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and elsewhere have published a detailed account of their studies on the narwhal tusk in the Anatomical Record a detailed account of their studies on the narwhal tusk in the Anatomical Record. They conclude that the tusk is a sense organ that lets male narwhals perceive the ocean, possibly helping them find mates or food. Morell V (30 January 2012). "Killer whale menu finally revealed". Science . Retrieved 24 June 2015. In addition, an increase in ship traffic will likely result in more deadly collisions. Narwhals, similar to other whales, rely on hearing to understand their environment. Human-made sources of noise can interfere with the narwhals' ability to hear and communicate and could inhibit their ability to locate their pod members, find food or mates, navigate and avoid predators.

Nielsen M.R. (2009). "Is climate change causing the increasing narwhal ( Monodon monoceros) catches in Smith Sound, Greenland?". Polar Research. 28 (2): 238–245. Bibcode: 2009PolRe..28..238N. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-8369.2009.00106.x. S2CID 140711336. Linnaeus, C (1758). Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata (in Latin). Holmiae. (Laurentii Salvii). p.824. They’re one of the most difficult animals to study, in my opinion,” said polar biologist Kristen Laidre, who studies narwhals and other Arctic animals as a scientist and professor at the University of Washington. “They’re just inherently very elusive and sneaky,” she added. What do narwhals look like? Food for narwhals includes halibut from Greenland, cod from the Arctic and Antarctic, squid, and shrimp from the open ocean. Ice floe edges and open water in summer are where they feed. 10. How Long Do Narwhals Live?

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. [15] In the summer, several groups come together, forming larger aggregations which can contain from 500 to over 1,000 individuals. [15] Narwhals are part of an Arctic environment that is rapidly changing. The region is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world – 1.35 degrees Fahrenheit (0.75 degrees Celsius) in the last decade alone. By comparison, it’s taken the Earth as a whole the past 137 years to warm by nearly the same amount, 0.8°C. Records the default button state of the corresponding category & the status of CCPA. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie. The narwhal tusk is a predominantly male characteristic, but about 15% of females also have a tusk. (Image credit: Glenn Williams/NIST) Where do narwhals live?Powdered, the substance was used as an aphrodisiac, a medicine and a poison detector, reported another article from Smithsonian magazine. In their intact, spiraling form, narwhal tusks were carved into utensils, scepters, swords and more. At the height of its trade, Smithsonian wrote, narwhal tusk was worth ten times its weight in gold.

Narwhals spend most of their time in small pods then join other pods during their migration season. (Image credit: Kristin Laidre/NOAA) Cultural significance a b c d e f g Heide-Jørgensen, M. P. & Laidre, K. L. (2006). Greenland's Winter Whales: The beluga, the narwhal and the bowhead whale. Ilinniusiorfik Undervisningsmiddelforlag, Nuuk, Greenland. ISBN 978-87-7975-299-3. At times, a bull narwhal may rub its tusk with another bull, a display known as "tusking" [28] [36] and thought to maintain social dominance hierarchies. [36] However, this behaviour may exhibit tusk use as a sensory and communication organ for sharing information about water chemistry sensed in tusk microchannels. [27] [28] Migration Females are often smaller than males, growing to be about 13 feet (4 m) long and weighing about 2,000 pounds (910 kg). Even though scientists generally consider the tusk a male sex characteristic, rare female narwhals also grow a tusk (or even two, according to a 1984 doctoral thesis by McGill University marine biologist Keith Hay). Verne, J. (1870). Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (PDF). Pierre-Jules Hetzel. p.10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 January 2015 . Retrieved 22 March 2014.Narwhals are similar in size to beluga whales. Males’ total length (excluding tusk) can range from 13 to 18 ft. Males are slightly larger than females, with an average length of 13.5 ft. Add on the average tusk length of eight feet and you have a full-length narwhal measuring over twenty feet long! Adults weigh between 1,760 to 3,530 lbs. 12. What Is The Current Narwhal Population? High Arctic communities of Inuit people, native to areas like the northern territory of Nunavut, Canada, and Northwestern Greenland, have a long-standing relationship to narwhals, according to ELOKA. Narwhals provide the humans with high-calorie fat, protein and nutrients, vital and hard to come by in the harsh northern winters. 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". The Monodontidae are distinguished by their medium size (at around 4m (13.1ft) in length), pronounced melons (acoustic sensory organ), short snouts and the absence of a true dorsal fin. [10]