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Narwhal

While narwhals have been dubbed the “unicorn of the sea” for the male narwhal’s unicorn-like appearance, their famous “horn” is actually a long, spiraled tooth! Males may use this special tooth to attract females, catch prey, and detect changes in the environment.

 

The narwhal is a unique species found in the frigid Arctic Ocean, primarily in the Atlantic region but occasionally in the Pacific region as well. They are highly migratory, following a seasonal pattern of moving from open waters and pack ice in the fall and winter to coastal waters in the spring and summer. Narwhals travel in pods of up to 10 individuals, especially while navigating pack ice in colder seasons, but also have been seen in larger formations of hundreds to thousands during open water migrations in the warmer months. 

The narwhal’s iconic tusk is actually an elongated canine tooth that can grow to nearly 10 feet long! Typically, only males grow a tusk, but occasionally female narwhals with tusks are seen as well, and some narwhals even grow two tusks! They are also known for their upturned mouths, which give these whales a smiley appearance. Age range can be estimated by looking at the color of a narwhal — young narwhals are a brownish-gray, adolescents are black with white mottling, and as they become adults, they lighten until they finally become white with black mottling. They can grow up to 4.8 meters (15.7 feet) in length. They primarily feed on fish, squid, and shrimp, and are known to dive significant depths to hunt prey — one dive being recorded at 1200 meters (3,937 feet).

 

 

Narwhals are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. However, they are not without threats and are vulnerable to habitat degradation, hunting, pollution, oil spills, and boat strikes.

 

 

Limiting our global reliance on oil and reducing marine pollution is necessary to protect these unique creatures. Oceana campaigns to stop offshore drilling, which can lead to dirty oil spills that pollute our oceans and harm marine life. Learn more about our work around the world and how you can get involved here. 

 

 

 

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