Least Concern

Narwhal

Monodon monoceros

Up to 50 years
Narwhals are not like other whale species. Many whales migrate from the Arctic in the winter, but narwhals spend the whole year in the circumpolar Arctic waters of Canada, Greenland and Russia.
The narwhal, a type of porpoise and member of the toothed-whale species, spends its time in the frigid cold waters in and around the Arctic.
Mainly squid, fish and shrimp

In this article

In this article

Narwhals are among the rarest animals in the ocean. Narwhals are known for their distinct tusks, which landed them the nickname “unicorns of the sea.” But their “tusk” is actually a tooth! Their teeth are very sensitive and have up to 10 million nerve endings inside each one. All narwhals are born with two teeth, but their teeth patterns change as narwhals get older. Males usually have one tooth that becomes much more prominent than the other (the tusk), and females typically lose their teeth.

Narwhals are porpoises and are related to orcas, harbor porpoises and bottlenose dolphins. Porpoises travel in groups called pods. Narwhal pods are usually made up of anywhere from 10 to 100 individuals, but sometimes their pods can number almost a thousand.

Narwhals prefer to stay closer to the ocean surface, but they can dive up to 5,000 feet.

Narwhals like traveling with their friends and family in their pods. Narwhals communicate by using a series of clicks and squeals. They also sometimes see the males in their pod “tusking” or crossing tusks as a form of dueling or cleaning teeth.

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