Narwhals

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Class Mammalia
Order Artiodactyla
Infraorder Cetacea
Parvorder Odontoceti
Family Monodontidae
Genus Monodon
Species monoceros

The Narwhal lives in the arctic circle, off Greenland, Canada, and Russia. During the summer, Narwhals stick closer to shore, in shallow water. In winter, they head out to deeper water, under the ice. They breathe through cracks in the ice. Narwhals range from about 14-18 feet in length, with males usually being larger than females.

Narwhals mature at about 8 years old, and have a gestation period of 14 months. Their fecundity is low. They give birth to only one calf at a time, and calves are raised by their mothers for more than a year. Narwhals have a specialized diet, eating Halibut, Cod, and Squid. Major predators of the Narwhal include Orcas, Polar Bears, and Greenland Sharks.

Narwhal tusks have many uses. The tusk has millions of nerve endings, which seems to indicate that it is used as a sensory organ. They might also be used for communication between individuals. Narwhals have also been observed using their tusks to stun fish. Narwhals also have small, vestigial teeth. They also seem to like swimming upside down. During the Middle Ages, many europeans believed that the Narwhal's tusk had magical properties. Some tusks in the 1500s were worth as much as some castles! Narwhals may be the origin of the unicorn myth. Rarely, there are individual narwhals who have two tusks. There is an exhibit on narwhals at the National Museum of Natural History.

The closest relative of Narwhals is the Beluga whale. The ICUN lists Narwhals as having the Least Concern status. Their population appears to be stable, if not increasing. However, climate change and the loss of Arctic sea ice may pose a danger to them.