Mammals · Artiodactyla · Monodontidae

Narwhal

Monodon monoceros

Near Threatened

It could become endangered in the near future if current threats go unchecked. See full glossary

Its distinctive 'tusk' is in fact a left canine tooth that grows forward in a spiral, and it is carried almost exclusively by males.

Weight

900 kg – 1.6 t

Size

3.5 m – 5.4 m

Lifespan

35 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Irregular activity

Active at irregular times, by day or night depending on circumstances.

Social structure

Hierarchical pack

Lives in an organised hierarchical group, typical of cooperative hunters.

Sighting difficulty

Moderate

PolarCarnivore Variable activity In packs Near Threatened Polar Mammal

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Fun facts

Its 'tusk' is in fact a spiralling left canine tooth, carried almost only by males.
A 2007 study put one female's age at 115 years.
It hunts on deep dives of up to 1,500 metres.
anatomíaThe tusk protruding from its mouth is in fact a sensory tooth with millions of nerve endings, able to detect changes in the salinity and temperature of the water.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Deep Arctic waters of Canada, Greenland, Norway and Russia
Birth weight: 80-100 kg and 1.5-1.7 m long at birth
Size at birth: 80-100 kg and 1.5-1.7 m at birth
Sexual maturity: Female: 5-8 years | Male: 8-10 years
Gestation / incubation: 13-16 months (~14-15 months)
Litter / clutch size: 1 calf per birth, with about 3 years between births

Sources consulted: American Oceans; All Species Wiki; Cool Antarctica; MarineBio; AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); A-Z Animals; About Animals; Sealife Guide; NOAA Fisheries