Narwhal world
Everything about Narwhal in one place — today's market rates, the market near you, care tips, expert blogs, products and a quick guide.
About Narwhal
The narwhal is a species of toothed whale native to the Arctic. It is the only member of the genus Monodon and one of two living representatives of the family Monodontidae. The narwhal is a stocky cetacean with a relatively blunt snout, a large melon, and a shallow ridge in place of a dorsal fin. Males of this species have a spiralled tusk that is 1.5–3.0 m (4.9–9.8 ft) long, which is a protruding left canine thought to function as a weapon, a tool for feeding, in attracting mates or sensing water salinity. Specially adapted slow-twitch muscles, along with the jointed neck vertebrae and shallow dorsal ridge allow for easy movement through the Arctic environment, where the narwhal spends extended periods at great depths. The narwhal's geographic range overlaps with that of the similarly built and closely related beluga whale, and the animals are known to interbreed.
Narwhal facts & figures
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Monodon monoceros
Conservation status
Source: IUCN Red List via GBIF
Classification
- Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Chordata
- Class Mammalia
- Order Cetacea
- Family Monodontidae
- Genus Monodon
- Species Monodon monoceros
Source: GBIF
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