Quick Facts
- Type
- Mammal
- Size
- 4–5.5 m body (excluding tusk)
- Weight
- 800–1,600 kg
- Habitat
- Arctic waters of Greenland, Canada, and Russia
- Diet
- Fish, squid, and shrimp
- Active Time
- Active day and night under the ice
- Lifespan
- Up to 50 years or more
Field Notes
- The narwhal's 'horn' is really a spiraled tooth that can grow up to 3 m long.
- The tusk is full of nerves and may help sense water temperature and salinity.
- Narwhal tusks were once sold in Europe as priceless unicorn horns.
About the Narwhal
The narwhal is an Arctic toothed whale famous for the long, spiraled tusk that projects from the heads of most males. The tusk is actually an enormously elongated tooth, packed with nerve endings, that may help the whale sense its surroundings. Narwhals live year-round in the cold waters around Greenland, Canada, and Russia, diving deep beneath the sea ice to feed on fish and squid. They travel in groups and communicate with clicks and whistles. Their mysterious tusks likely inspired ancient legends of the unicorn.
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