Ten fun facts about Narwhals
Fact 1
The narwhal whale is unique among whale species and has a long ivory tusk that extends from the upper left side of its jaw. The tusks measure 7 to 10 feet in length.
Fact 2
The average weight of a narwhal is 3,500 lbs and can reach a ton. They grow from 13 to 20 feet in length. Narwhals use their forehead to ‘feel’ sound waves and hear each other as they bounce through water.
Fact 3
Their squeals or whistles can make humans deaf.
Fact 4
They travel in pods of 4 – 20 whales. They are often separated by sex.
Fact 5
Narwhals use their tusks as formidable jousting weapons when they are courting and also when they wish to display dominance among rivals. The female tusk is shorter than the male tusk.
Fact 6
They live to be up to 50 years old.
Fact 7
Their diet consists of flatfish, shrimp, cods, Gonatus squid and various types of benthic prey.
Fact 8
Narwhals swim belly up and lay motionless for several minutes and this has earned them the name, “corpse whale.” They can dive to depths of about 5,000 feet when looking for food.
Fact 9
They migrate from coastal water towards the offshore to prevent being trapped by ice in winter.
Fact 10
The average gestation period for females is 14 to 15 months. They mate during spring and male narwhals reach maturity between 8 to 10 years of age.
More interesting reads about...
Whales
Whales are very large marine mammals, that live in the oceans.
Walruses
Are the most garrulous pinnipeds or marine mammals with broad heads, flippers, short muzzle, small eyes, tusks and whiskers.
Seals
Are warm-blooded marine mammals with round eyes and long whiskers around the mouth.
Impalas
Are medium-sized African antelopes that can leap to a height of 10 feet or 33 feet ahead when running.
Sea Lions
Are marine fin-footed mammals in the family Otariidae and have the ability to walk on all fours.
Elephants
Are the largest living land animals that are now found in the world
Snails
Are gastropods, which literally means ‘belly foot animals’.
Manatees
Are gentle aquatic mammals with bodies that taper to a flat paddle shaped tail.
Kangaroos
Are marsupial animals belonging to the Macropodidae family which means “big feet” and found mainly in Australia and New Guinea.
MORE IN ANIMALS
