The narwhal is a medium-sized marine mammal belonging to the suborder of toothed whales. What sets this creature apart is its distinctive long horn located on its head.
Many films and novels often reference a mythical creature known as the unicorn. In reality, there exists a creature with a long horn on its head, which is the narwhal, scientifically named “Monodon monoceros.”
Together with the beluga whale, the narwhal is the only extant member of the family Monodontidae. However, unlike narwhals, beluga whales do not have a horn. Narwhals inhabit the frigid Arctic regions, where they endure harsh weather conditions with thick ice cover for six months during winter.
The most notable feature of the narwhal is its long, straight, unique horn. In fact, this is not a horn but a tusk that develops from the upper left jaw of the animal.
This tusk usually measures between 2 to 3 meters in length and weighs over 10 kilograms, with only male narwhals possessing it. The tusk grows in a counter-clockwise spiral, resembling the mythical unicorn horn.
Some narwhals may even develop a pair of tusks if the right tusk also grows long. However, the right tusk is usually shorter than the left one, and this occurrence is extremely rare.
The narwhal’s tusk does not play a significant role in its life. Females without long tusks live as long as males. Various hypotheses suggest its functions, such as breaking ice, sensing temperature, navigation, or aiding in hunting. However, these hypotheses have yet to be conclusively proven.
According to EarthSky, the tusk is simply a sexual characteristic. Similar to a lion’s mane or a peacock’s tail, male narwhals use their long tusks to establish hierarchy and compete for mates. Nevertheless, scientists have not provided specific documentation on this.
In the Middle Ages, it was believed that grinding the narwhal’s tusk into powder could cure various ailments. Moreover, narwhal tusks were used in numerous works of art. The throne of the Danish king in the 1600s was also adorned with narwhal tusks.
Today, the beauty and rarity of narwhals continue to entice the ultra-wealthy to seek them out. The estimated price of narwhal tusks ranges from $4,000 to $15,700, often compared to gold in value. Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603) reportedly paid an amount equivalent to a castle to acquire a rare narwhal tusk.
As a result, humans have heavily hunted narwhals for profit. Additionally, this species is also affected by global warming. According to scientists, in 2008, there were an estimated 1,945 narwhals in the region, but by 2017, that number had plummeted to just 246. This has significantly impacted the global narwhal population, putting this species at risk of extinction in the near future.
