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Narwhals

Narwhals live in Arctic waters and are famous for the male's sharp, long, frontward-projecting tusk. The Inuit culture of Canada and Greenland revolves around hunting and harvesting narwhals. Contributors therefore ask and answer questions that range from the specifics of narwhal activities and appearance to their particular usefulness for the Inuit people.

674 Questions

Where did narwhals originate?

Narwhals are believed to have originated in the Arctic waters of the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans. They are predominantly found in the Canadian Arctic and Greenlandic waters.

Do narwhals visit the Isles of Scilly?

No, the narwhal [Monodon monoceros] tends not to venture too far south of 65 degrees North latitude. The narwhal is picky about living conditions. The aquatic mammal prefers Arctic and North Atlantic waters because of the cooler temperatures, the icy refuges from predators, and the specialized prey.

In terms of the United Kingdom, a narwhal may visit the islands off the far northern coast of Scotland. But it's much less likely that a narwhal will visit the Isles of Scilly, which are located off the southwestern coast of England. The Isles are in too southerly a location, at 49 degrees 56 minutes 10 seconds North latitude and 6 degrees 9 minutes 22 seconds West longitude.

Do female narwhals have tusks?

A female narwhal does not typically have a tusk, but yet not all males do, either. About 15% of female narwhals have these tusks. The truth is, scientists don't yet know why most males have them, and most females don't. They do, however, know that the so-called "tusk" is really a tooth that has grown through the upper lip. Narwhals only have two teeth. Sometimes both of them will grow through the upper lip, and other times, neither tooth will grow out like this. Scientists are still trying to figure out why that is, and it may take a while, but eventually they will have an answer.

Is a narwhal coldblooded?

No, a narwhal is a marine mammal and is warm-blooded like other mammals. They have the ability to regulate their body temperature and maintain a stable internal environment regardless of the external temperature of their environment.

Why does the NARWHAL have a horn?

It is believed that the horn (Which is actually a tusk, a type of tooth) is used for nothing more than sexual identification. Males are the ones that have the tusk, located on the left incisor, though females can have them on rare occasions. 1 out of every 500 Narwhals has a second tusk on the right incisor, but there has only been one sighting of a female narwhal with two tusks.

Why do narwhales have a horn?

Narwhals have a long tusk, which is actually an elongated tooth, that can reach lengths of up to 10 feet. The purpose of the tusk is not fully understood, but it may play a role in mating rituals, finding food, or communication.

In how many years will narwhals go extinct?

Narwhals [Monodon monoceros] could go extinct as soon as most of the Arctic ice has melted. During the summer, narwhals live along the coasts of Canada, Greenland, and Russia. During the winter, they shelter inside the cracks and crevices of Arctic ice packs. The ice packs protect narwhals from predatory Orca whales [Orcinus orca]. A scarcity or absence of ice packs means greater numbers of narwhals being killed by orca whales. At the same time, narwhals are vulnerable to the effects of global warming on ocean life. Changed ocean temperatures means changed living conditions and therefore changed ocean food chains. Narwhals are picky eaters, and follow specialized diets. Additionally, they migrate between summer and winter feeding grounds. Travel in the open sea, and specific dietary and habitat requirements therefore put narwhals in the 'near threatened' status of survival.

How long is a narwhal's tusk?

6 feet(some have grown larger).
100 feet because it is the magical unicorn of the seas

Why do some narwhals have one tusk and some have two?

Narwhals are usually born with two teeth, or tusks, but in some cases, one tusk may remain while the other regresses. This can happen due to genetics, hormones, or environmental factors during development. The function of the tusk is still not fully understood, but it may play a role in mating rituals, communication, and navigation.

How does a narwhal swim?

Answer #1 by Poke bro With their tail. Answer #2 by Ginezumi A narwhal [Monodon monoceros] swims with the upturned tips of its flippers, its tusk and head, and its tail. The flipper tips and the tail help the narwhal steer. The flipper tips also help the narwhal stop. The tusk and head help the narwhal to move by echolocation. The tusk detects differences in water temperature, salinity and pressure that may affect swimming conditions. The mouth emits sounds that come back as sound waves. The sound waves are processed by the head, and possibly also by the tusks, to swim around upcoming obstacles in the sea.

How are unicorns and narwhals related?

Well, they both possess a twirly horn, however, the narwhal's horn is actually simply one of two teeth, (usually protruding from the lower left jaw), and the unicorn's horn is a true horn protruding from its otherwise unremarkable forehead. Genetically... well... unicorns do not exist. I'm sorry.

How long does a narwhal horn grow to?

A narwhal's tusk, which is actually a long, spiral-shaped tooth, can grow to be about 9 feet (2.7 meters) long.

What sound does a narwhal make?

A narwhal makes a range of sounds. The sounds include clicks, squeals, trills, and whistles. Scientists still are sorting the possible reasons for the wide array of sounds. But one suggestion is the use of sound for communication, and for the echolocation purposes of hunting and navigation.

Why can narwhals not exist in captivity?

Narwhals are deep-diving Arctic whales that require vast ocean spaces, constantly cold temperatures, and specialized diets in their natural habitat. These complex requirements are difficult, if not impossible, to replicate in captivity, leading to stress, health issues, and ultimately a high mortality rate for narwhals in captivity. Additionally, the implications of capturing and confining these animals can also raise ethical concerns.

What is a scientific name for a narwhal?

Monodon Monoceros. It comes from Greek, meaning "One-tooth, one-horn" or "One-toothed unicorn."

Why does the narwhal not have a dorsal fin?

The narwhal evolved without a dorsal fin as a way to adapt to its environment in the Arctic Ocean. The lack of a dorsal fin helps narwhals navigate through icy waters and under ice sheets more easily, as a fin could hinder their ability to swim smoothly and maneuver in tight spaces.

What is causing the narwhal population to decline?

The main causes for population decline are predation, pollution, maritime transportation, and climate change. The main narwhal predators are hunters, killer whales [Orcinus orca], and polar bears [Ursus maritimus]. The pollution of the air and of the waters is worldwide in its scale and its impact. Maritime transportation contributes to that pollution, and also may affect narwhal migration routes. Climate change affects the life cycle of the narwhal and of narwhal predators and prey. The narwhal population has specific habitat and dietary needs. Any impact on either impacts the narwhal population.

Do narwhals live in the Arctic?

Yes, narwhals are known to inhabit the Arctic waters, particularly the Arctic regions of Canada, Greenland, Russia, and Norway. They are well adapted to the extreme cold temperatures and icy conditions of the Arctic environment.

What positive effects do humans have on narwhals?

I really doubt that humans have any positive impacts on the lives of Narwhals. We pollute their water, have hunted them fiercely for centuries, capture fish (their food) by the ton, and occasionally futilely attempt to capture one. (Narwhals always die in captivity, no matter how much space they are given). Countless other examples can be found if one makes a little extra research. So even if there is a positive impact, we probably don't know it since we have so little knowledge about these magnificent creatures, and in any case it is well overshadowed by the negative impacts.

How often do narwhals eat?

Specific information is lacking. But the frequency of feeding definitely depends upon the season. In the summer, narwhals feed in shallower waters. They typically prey on fishes that dwell in the uppermost, sunlit zone of the ocean. They dive less deeply. There's enough dissolved oxygen in the water that they can stay down for longer periods of time. In fact, they're known to stay down for as long as almost a half hour at a time. In the winter, narwhals feed in deeper waters. They typically prey on fishes that dwell in the middle, dimly lit zone of the ocean. They dive much deeper than in summer. There's much, much less dissolved oxygen in the middle zone of cold temperatures and high pressure. So narwhals may dive more than 15 times a day for their food.

How do narwhals adapt to their environment?

One way that narwhals adapt to their environment is their coloring. Their grey mottling often is likened to the look of a drowned sailor's skin. But it serves the purpose of camouflaging the narwhal's presence in the Arctic waters of the polar latitudes. There, the dappled, filtered play of light gives a moving, light-and-shadow effect to the waters. Narwhal coloring blends right in. Another way is their migration. During the summer, they live in the shallower waters, where they only have to dive 30-300 meters/90-900 feet downwards to find their prey and therefore their meals. During the winter, for example, they move to the deeper waters under the pack ice off Baffin Bay and Davis Strait. There, an additional adaptation is typically deep diving 800 meters/2,400 feet downwards for finding prey and getting fed.

Do narwhals kill each other?

Yes, it's possible that narwhals indeed kill each other. Male narwhals have been found, dead and alive, with scars and wounds to the heads and tusks. Males engage in what tends to be called playful tusking. But perhaps that gets carried away at times.

Do you think there should be a 'Narwhals' category?

Creating a 'Narwhals' category could be interesting as these unique creatures have a distinct place in popular culture. It would cater to those who have a specific interest in narwhals and provide a platform for sharing knowledge and content related to them.

What is the behavioral adaptation of the narwhal?

One behavioral adaptation of the narwhal is migration. The narwhal undergoes summer and winter migrations. In the summer, the narwhal is found in shallower waters. That's the season when the food supply is abundant, and easy to catch, in shallower waters. In the winter, the narwhal is found in deeper waters. That's the season when food is scarce in shallower waters, and more abundant in deeper waters. Another behavioral adaptation is deep diving. There's no need for narwhals to perform the deep dives in shallower waters. But in deeper waters, the narwhal performs some of the deepest, known mammalian dives on record. So, depending on the season, the narwhal has a diving range of 30-300 meters/90-900 feet down in summer, and 800-1,500 meters/2,400-4,500 feet down in winter.

How do narwhals sleep?

Narwhals sleep by shutting half of their body down at a time. They close one eye and shut down the associated side of the brain. Later, they close the other eye and shut down the other associated side of the brain. They do so when they safely are hidden away in icy crevices from predatory humans [Homo sapiens sapiens], killer whales [Orcinus orca], and polar bears [Ursus maritimus]. They also do so when they safely are grouped into pods of 10-100.