Title: BBC - Earth - The tusks of narwhals are actually teeth that are inside-out
Headings: The tusks of narwhals are actually teeth that are inside-out
The tusks of narwhals are actually teeth that are inside-out
Content: That is a little tricky to explain. " The tusk is most common in males and is only infrequently found in females," says Westdal. That suggests that it isn't "anything special required for survival", but is something to do with courtship and mating. They are not mutually exclusive explanations, says Nweeia. Tusks could be multifunctional: a good tusk could be a useful sensor, and as a result females might decide "that guy's got a great tusk, I'm going with him." View image of Lancaster Sound is a critical narwhal habitat (Credit: Doug Allan/NPL)
Cartoons sometimes suggest that narwhals are fierce creatures, perhaps dueling with their tusks. But that is not what Westdal has seen. " In all the encounters I've had with them, they are beautiful… and quite graceful," she says.