Scientists have studied and captured footage of the iconic narwhals (Monodon monoceros) of the Arctic using their tusks to hunt.
- Drone footage of a pod in their Arctic habitat now provides some unexpected answers, with the animals using their tusks to manipulate objects, forage, explore, and even play.
- The study has been published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science.
About Narwhals
- The narwhal is an odontocete or toothed whale, but is different from all other toothed whales in that it has no teeth in its mouth.
- Often dubbed the unicorns of the sea, narwhals are strange and beautiful creatures with long tusks protruding from their heads.
- The narwhal tusk—most commonly found on males—is actually an enlarged tooth with sensory capability and up to 10 million nerve endings inside.
- Some narwhals have up to two tusks, while others have none. Most female narwhals lack tusks.
- The spiraled tusk juts from the head and can grow as long at 10 feet. Unlike some whale species that migrate, narwhals spend their lives in the Arctic waters of Canada, Greenland, Norway and Russia.
(Sources: Down To Earth and WWF)
