Title: Narwhal Tusk Facts: Did You Know? | Arctic Kingdom
Headings: Narwhal Tusk Facts: Did You Know
Narwhal Tusk Facts: Did You Know
Profile: The Narwhal
Narwhal Tusks: Did You Know?
Why Do They Have Them?
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Content: While there is normally a hard coating of enamel, dentin, and cementum that shields the sensitive nerves, in fact, the narwhal tusk has nerves on the outside with the dense material on the inside of the hollow tusk and is used as a sensory organ. The tusk has millions of tiny holes and nerve endings on the surface of the tusk. Seawater enters tiny holes in the tusk that channels the water into a “sensory centre” at the base of the tusk. These nerve endings send valuable information to the brain giving it information on the water around them. These external stimuli provide vital knowledge for these Arctic whales. It’s believed that they can sense chemical changes in the water like the salt levels, temperatures, and water pressure while they’re migrating. And it’s also believed that they can sense chemicals released by potential mates. Now, they have been used for practical uses like the rare practice of tapping a fish to stun it when they eat. But primarily it is believed to be a guiding feature. That means that when they gently do rub tusks together, it’s possible that they are transferring important information about the water’s environment.