Title: Narwhal Facts: The Fascinating Unicorn Whale of the Arctic - Owlcation
Headings: Narwhal Facts: The Fascinating Unicorn Whale of the Arctic
Narwhal Facts: The Fascinating Unicorn Whale of the Arctic
A pod of narwhals
An Unusual and Intriguing Whale
Range and Habitat
Physical Features of the Animal
Length and Weight
Colour and Pattern
Tusks
Dorsal Ridge and Blubber
Upper and lower surfaces of a male narwhal
Breathing Mechanism
Narwhals on the north coast of Baffin Island
Echolocation
Function of Narwhal Tusks
Narwhal Tusks as Sense Organs
Another Possible Function of the Tusk
The Life of a Narwhal
The Pod
Diet
Vocalizations
This male narwhal was captured, satellite-tagged and then released.
Diving Feats
Adaptations for Diving
Reproduction
Predators
Population Status and Threats
IUCN Status
Climate Change
Mercury Absorption
Ice Entrapment
A narwhal skull with two tusks
The Future for Narwhals
References
Questions & Answers
© 2012 Linda Crampton
Comments

Content: Older theories claimed that the tusks are weapons to attack other narwhals and boats and to spear fish or that they are used to dig into ice or the ocean bottom. There is no confirmed evidence for these claims, and they have been discarded. Each year a new growth layer is added to the narwhal's tusk, which grows longer and thicker throughout the animal’s life. — Aarhus University (via ScienceDaily)
Narwhal Tusks as Sense Organs
Some researchers have noticed the many tubules and nerves that travel through narwhal tusks. They have also noticed that the surface of a tusk is very sensitive to stimuli. The researchers believe that the structures are used as sense organs. Scientists experimented with a narwhal that was temporarily captured and then released unharmed. They found that when the salinity around the tusk was changed, the animal produced new brain waves. It's theorized that the ability to detect salinity changes enables narwhals to tell whether ice is forming in nearby water, which can be dangerous for the animals. It might also enable the whales to detect areas of water where specific prey are likely to be found.