Title: Narwhal Animal Facts - Unicorn of the Sea
Headings: Facts About Narwhals, the Unicorns of the Sea
Facts About Narwhals, the Unicorns of the Sea
Unicorns Really Do Exist
Fast Facts: Narwhal
The Unicorn Horn
Description
Behavior
Lifespan and Conservation Status
References

Content: The narwhal's tusk is on its left side. Males have the "horn," but only 15% of females have one. The Unicorn Horn
A male narwhal has a single long tusk. The tusk is a hollow left-handed spiral helix that grows from the left side of the upper jaw and through the whale's lip. The tusk grows throughout the whale's life, reaching a length from 1.5 to 3.1 m (4.9 to 10.2 ft) and weight of approximately 10 kg (22 lb). About 1 in 500 males has two tusks, with the other tusk formed from the right canine tooth. Around 15% of females have a tusk. Female tusks are smaller than those of males and not as spiralized. There is one recorded case of a female having two tusks. Initially, scientists speculated the male tusk might be involved in male sparring behavior, but the current hypothesis is that tusks are rubbed together to communicate information about the ocean environment.