What is the narwhal’s tusk? How long can it grow? What’s it used for? Read on to find out the answers. <\/p>
We unravel the enigma behind the narwhal’s extraordinary tusk.<\/strong><\/p> A male narwhal only has one tooth \u2013 the upper-left canine, to be precise. But, oh, what a tooth. <\/p> Not for nothing is this Arctic whale\u2019s scientific name\u00a0Monodon monoceros<\/em>, from the Greek for “one-tooth one-horn.” <\/p> Projecting straight forward rather than downwards from an otherwise toothless mouth, it emerges through the top lip, twisting anticlockwise as it grows. Without it, a 6m-long whale would be a 4m-long whale. No wonder narwhals\u2019 tusks were long prized and traded as unicorn horns.<\/p> The fact that only the males have tusks suggests they are there for the purposes of sexual display, like a peacock\u2019s tail, advertising a male\u2019s quality to potential mates or rivals. But unlike peacocks\u2019 tails, narwhals\u2019 tusks are more than just eye-candy. They seem to have a few practical uses, too.<\/p> Males have been documented swishing them back and forth to stun fast-moving prey, for example, much like sailfish use their elongated snouts. Dotted with nerve endings, they might well have a sensory function, too \u2013 detecting sound, smell or touch, perhaps. And it\u2019s not hard to imagine how they could make a hungry orca think twice about launching an attack. Females, though, seem to get on perfectly well without them.<\/p>What is a narwhal tusk?<\/h2>
How long does a narwhal tusk grow?<\/h2>
What do narwhal use their tusk for?<\/h2>