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Narwhal

          The narwhal (Monodon monoceros), or narwhale, is a medium-sized toothed whale that possesses a large "tusk" from a protruding canine tooth. It lives year-round in the Arctic waters around Greenland, Canada, and Russia. 

          Each year, they migrate from bays into the ocean as summer comes. In the winter, the male narwhal’s occasionally dive up to 1,500 m (4,920 ft) in depth, with dives lasting up to 25 minutes. In winter, it feeds on benthic prey, mostly flatfish, under dense pack ice. During the summer, narwhals mostly eat Arctic cod and Greenland halibut, with other fish such as polar cod making up the remainder of their diet

Physical Appearance

          Excluding the male's tusk, the total body size can range from 3.95 to 5.5 m (13 to 18 ft); the males are slightly larger than the females. The average weight of an adult narwhal is 800 to 1,600 kg (1,760 to 3,530 lb). Narwhals do not have a dorsal fin, and their neck vertebrae are jointed like those of other mammals, not fused as in dolphins and most whales.

          The tusk is actually a canine tooth that grows throughout life, reaching a length of about 1.5 to 3.1 m (4.9 to 10.2 ft). It is hollow and weighs around 10 kg (22 lb). About one in 500 males has two tusks,Only about 15 percent of females grow a tusk  which typically is smaller than a male tusk, with a less noticeable spiral. Wild narwhal  using their bizarre tusks to hunt Arctic cod by hitting and stunning them, making them easier to consume.  It has a small kinda unnoticeable eyes, but if you look close enough, you’ll see it. Like other whales, narwhal’s have a blowhole which helps them to breathe. Its fluke shape will affect its swimming performance, the male’s fluke helps account drag caused by their tooth, while the female’s fluke provides speed for diving. Narwhal’s have pair of flippers

Life Cycle

          Monodon monoceros is a seasonal breeder. The gestation period is about 15.3 months, with mating occurring in March-May and calving in July-August of the following year. A single calf is often the result of gestation, yet some twins have been recorded. 

          The calf (baby narwhal) is born live and stays with its mother for 20 months after birth. Baby narwhals are usually brown with no spots or flecks. Males are not born with their tooth/tusk. The male calf sexually matures at the age of 8-13 years old while the female will sexually mature at 4-8 years old. At birth narwhals are usually 5 feet long and 80kg in weight.