Title: Narwhal tusk - Scientists finally solve its real purpose | Tech Times
Headings: Narwhal tusk - Scientists finally solve its real purpose
Narwhal tusk - Scientists finally solve its real purpose
Content: Narwhal tusk - Scientists finally solve its real purpose | Tech Times
Narwhal tusk - Scientists finally solve its real purpose
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James Maynard, Tech Times 20 March 2014, 05:03 am
Narwhals are the Unicorns of the sea - and now, researchers know why the whales sport that distinctive horn. Narwhals are toothed whales, and the horn of the male can grow to be as long as eight-and-a-half feet long. The unusual feature is the left canine tooth of the males, which breaks through the upper lip of the male. It is sometimes used in contests between males to win mates, but it does not primarily serve a defensive purpose. Although biologists knew this much about the horn of narwhals, theories of how the animals used the body part differed greatly. Some biologists believed the horns are used for ice picks, while others said the horns picked up noises deep under water. Researchers discovered the horn is, in fact, used as a sensory organ. Unlike most mammal teeth, the horn of a narwhal is not protected by enamel. Sea water enters the horn through cementum channels, which are also present in human teeth. The liquid then travels through a network of tubules to the center of the tooth, heading base of the tusk.